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Stuart Tennis Clicks on All Cylinders As it Wins 2nd Straight Prep B Crown
By Bill Alden
In mid-October, the Stuart Country Day tennis team was bitterly disappointed when it suffered a narrow defeat to Gill-St. Bernard's.
The sting of that setback, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it prompted the Tartans to regain their focus just in time for the state Prep B tournament.
Last week, the Tartans stung the opposition in the Prep B tourney, rolling to the title by winning all five flights of the competition.
Stuart senior star Kathryn Kitts ended her stellar career in glory as she came from behind to beat Pennington's Adrienne Markison 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 to win the title at first singles.
The Tartans had an easier time in the other singles matches as Claire Wiles posted a 6-3, 6-2 over Emily Clamp of Gill at second singles with Kelsey Semrod following suit at third singles in dispatching Sarah Clamp of Gill, 6-3, 6-0.
In doubles, Stuart's top pair of Laura Patterson and Comfort Clinton topped Samatha Bender and Luz Domiguez of Gill 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 while the second doubles team of Lauren O'Gara and Elizabeth Kitts defeated Courtney Sibert and Kate Rennis of Ranney.
In assessing her team's dominant performance, Stuart head coach Dede Webster pointed to the Gill setback as a motivating factor.
"The loss to Gill was a wakeup call," asserted Webster, whose team narrowly won the Prep B title in 2004. "It didn't feel good at the time but it ended up helping us. I felt that we had a lot of depth. It doesn't get any better than winning all five flights."
Few players have been any better for Stuart than its senior standout Kitts, who placed second at first tingles earlier this fall in the Mercer County Tournament (MCT). "It was very gratifying to see her win that match," said Webster. "That was a thrill."
Kitts' influence on the program has gone beyond piling up wins. "When you have someone lie Kathryn at the top, it rubs off on the others," said Webster. "She has a work ethic that pulls the whole team up. She was a co-captain this year and she makes it her business to be part of the team. You don't always see that from a top player."
Stuart's other singles players, Wiles and Semrod, appear to be following Kitts' example. "Both of them are good and will get even better," said Webster. "Claire will get stronger and Kelsey is already strong."
The doubles teams showed plenty of strength as they got better and better as the season went on. "I think our second doubles team came along the farthest this season," said Webster, referring to O'Gara and Elizabeth Kitts, Kathyrn's younger sister.
"They lost badly to Notre Dame at the beginning of the season. They developed a chemistry and really improved. Both of the teams came to the net. People were telling me at the states that you don't see that much. I think their aggressiveness gave us an edge."
Noting that no Stuart team has ever won all five flights at the state tournament, Webster acknowledge that the program reached new heights with its performance this season.
"I think it's the best team I've had," asserted Webster, whose team finished in a program best second-place tie at the MCT team competition. "I'm thrilled with it. They were just a great bunch of kids. It's great to see them end the season on such a high note. That doesn't always happen."
And it might not have happened this season if Stuart hadn't refocused itself after the loss to Gill.
