This past week, the varsity girls tennis team traveled to Omaha South to compete in the Metro Conference Tournament. The team competed against many schools from the metro area and got a good feel for what the state tournament could look like. Head Coach Jordane Warkentin said that the team played well over the course of the two day tournament.

“Overall, I think the girls did a great job at Metros,” Warkentin said. “They all worked extremely hard to prepare for it and it definitely showed on the court.”

Warkentin said that she was excited after sophomore Anna Schmillen and freshman Claire Bonnett, Westside’s number one doubles team, was able to place sixth at metros.

“Anna and Claire were not seeded in the top 8 going in to Metro,” Warkentin said. “They worked extremely hard last Thursday to defeat some great opponents. They were both proud of what they accomplished and are looking forward to working hard at State.”

Going into the state tournament, Warkentin said she believes that staying level headed is the most important way to prepare for state.

“[The team has] worked extremely hard this season and have made a lot of improvements on the court,” Warkentin said. “Over the next two days, it will be really important that the girls don’t stress out about playing at state because tennis is such a mental game.”

Although none of Westside’s played are seeded in the top 12, Warkentin said that the team will not worry about their seeding and look to pull off a couple upsets.

“Nobody from Westside is seeded in the top 12 of the state, but I truly hope that we can end the tournament with a few of our players in the top 12,” Warkentin said. “They have the drive and the competitiveness to create some major upsets from the seeded teams. “

In the state tournament, Schmillen and Bonnett will compete in number one doubles, junior Julia Steiner and freshman Katy Terry will compete in number two doubles, junior Divine Lawson will compete in number one singles, and senior Mya Erixon will compete in number two singles. They will look to finish their season strong and spark upsets in the state tournament this Thursday, May 16 and  Friday, May 17th at the Koch Tennis Center.