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Love for tennis drives Poland’s Eckman
By Curtis Pulliam
Elise Eckman knows she’s talented.
The Poland senior won the sectional tournament last season but came one match short of making the state tournament.
As the top seed going into districts again, Eckman believes she has an edge this time.
“Honestly, I think it’s my love of the game,” Eckman said. “I don’t know if anyone around here loves it more than I do.”
Her love for tennis has increased her work ethic this season.
“Whenever I come out to practice, I don’t want to leave,” Eckman said. “I always want to be on the court.”
She doesn’t have to wait long. Her first match is against Frances Murray of Hathaway Brown.
“I saw some of the names in the tournament and it looks like there is going to be good competition,” Eckman said. “I just hope I can hold my own and maybe do a little better than last year.”
Additionally, Eckman worked on her conditioning by running cross country.
“I really focused on that this summer,” Eckman said. “It [conditioning] was never one of my strong points.”
Eckman has played competitive tennis since seventh grade but received an emotional boost from first year head coach Anne Marian.
“Anne really inspired me this year,” Eckman said. “I have never seen another coach with so much passion for the game. I want to have that passion.”
Marian has been impressed with Eckman.
“She’s a very smart player,” said the first year coach. “She’s made my first year easy.”
Eckman went 14-2 during the regular season and is ready for the road ahead.
“Mentally, I just have to think that every match I go into I have a chance,” Eckman said. “That’s the only way I’m ever going to win. You can have the best strokes in the world but if you don’t have the mental game, then you’re going to lose.”
Also advancing out of sectional play was Gianna Reider (Cardinal Mooney), Kara Thompson (Struthers) and Allison Christopher (Ursuline).
On the doubles side, Hallie Yerian and Lizzie Mathews of Cardinal Mooney won sectional play.
“The key for them is communication,” said Mooney head coach Jimmy Leslie. “They are always talking out on the court.”
For Mathews the offseason was important to the duo’s success.
“We played lots of mixed doubles,” Mathews said. “Not with each other but against each other. We got to learn our strengths and weaknesses.”
Both players have made three trips to the district tournament.
“The first time I didn’t know what to expect,” Yerian said. “The last time I didn’t let the pressure get to me and just played. It was more fun to me.”
“Having played here before we have more confidence this time,” Mathews said. “I just want to play our best and hope for the best.”
Court vision is a factor according to Leslie.
“A lot of players can’t see the whole court,” Leslie said. “ But both of them can see [the court] very well.”
The teams of Marissa Riccardi and Audrey Schweers (Poland), Maria Stroup and Ellie Cole (Warren JFK) and Lauren Paczak and Carlie Stein (Lakeview) also qualified for district play.
Tournament play begins 9 a.m Friday at Harvard Park in Canton.
Cianciola, KaleeL underdogs
When the Canfield doubles team of Hannah Cianciola and Ashley Kaleel begin Division I district play today, they’ll do so as underdogs.
After ending the sectional tournament with a pair of loses to finish fourth, the duo now has to face the Oberlin sectional’s top-seeded team, Lauren O’Malley and Alexandra Vesikallio of Magnificat.
A loss would eliminate the Canfield girls from the district tournament at Oberlin College.