Ten Years of Tennis Come to An End

After ten years and eleven seasons the Heinisch family said goodbye to high school tennis tonight.  We had hoped that Cameron would be able to extend the season just a little longer by making it to the singles sectional, but a top #1 doubles court on a 20-0 Goshen team had other ideas.  Cameron and Breece fought hard and made the match close, but in the end fell short at 6-4, 6-3.  In true Heinisch tradition they were the last team on the court commanding a full audience.  Even with the loss and the bittersweet end of high school tennis, Cameron was all smiles afterward.  It had been a roller coaster of a season for him, but in the end he was extremely proud of how much he had grown and how well the team had played this year overcoming several adversities.  

As I drove home tonight I thought a lot about the Cal, Meg and Cameron playing tennis.  All three had taken lessons during their youth and Cameron had even played on the middle school tennis team with Matt from 5th to 8th grade.  Even with all of the time devoted to tennis, I still wouldn't call us a "tennis family."  They loved playing, but it definitely was not any of the threes #1 sport.  They played because they enjoyed it, had friends on the team and liked to keep busy.  All were valid reasons to participate in a high school sport.  

Even if it wasn't their number one sport, I could easily say that it was my number one sport to watch.  I have so many wonderful memories of their time on the court.  Cal's two hour and fifty minute three set win against Whitko his sophomore year was a highlight, as was Meg's first NLC win at #1 singles ironically on the same court where Cameron played his last match.  Meg and Cal both being named MVP in the same year at Wawasee.  The three of them driving their opponents crazy by yelling "No" after every missed shot or serve.  Cameron's comeback win against Northwood's #1 singles last year, being down 5-0 and then finishing the match with a 7-5, 6-0 victory.  The win was not only impressive, but the confidence that he gained that night carried him through his junior and senior season.  The eight year relationship he built with Matt on the tennis court was truly a joy to watch as well.  

I never planned on us being the "team mom", but was really glad that we signed up for the role.  It made the last year of high school tennis even more fun.  As sad as I was that it was all over, I thought about the words that Roger Voirol told me when Cal quit playing basketball, "It had to end sometime."  He was right then and still right today.  Thankfully, it ended on a high note and added to our special memories of the Heinisch children playing high school tennis.