Salem Tennis Team

The good news for the Salem girls tennis team was that they won the Mid Southern Conference last year. The even greater news was they didn’t have any seniors on the team and were returning everybody to make another run at the conference and shoot for back to back titles. But unfortunately the season ended before it began and the Lady Lions were left asking what if. 

The Salem tennis team had four seniors in Samantha Albertson, Reagan Wade-Swift, Kayla Cauble, Marissa Collins. 

Having so many returning players it was only natural that they felt confident in having another stellar season. Albertson said she was hoping to compete for conference again. “I was hoping for us to win conference again this year. I was personally hoping to win 50% of my matches in the number one singles position.”

Wade-Swift added that she wanted make the all-conference team again as well. “I wanted to win conference again this year and be an All-Conference player like last season.”

Upon hearing the season was canceled Cauble was shocked. She added that she still held out some hope of playing at least a shortened season before it was canceled all together. Wade-Swift and Albertson echoed her thoughts saying they were both disappointed they wouldn’t get to play any matches of their senior season. 

Cauble said maybe the most disappointing part was not getting a chance to defend their title. “I was really disappointed that we would not get a chance to defend our conference crown because we had worked so hard to get it last year and now we can’t defend it.”

Salem knew they would have a target on their back during the season as well. Albertson admitted she was looking forward to that challenge since they returned their whole team. 

Wade-Swift said she was just wanting to go out and play and not let the pressure of repeating get into her head. “I really never thought about it as defending the title.  I was just going to go out and play, not letting all of it get into my head.”

That conference title was the thing that all three players mentioned as their best memory from their tennis careers. Cauble added that she will really miss tennis. “It has been hard to not have one more season because they are many things that I will miss about tennis.”

None of them would change anything in their past seasons, mentioning that they all enjoyed their time as part of the Lady Lion tennis team as well. 

Although the love for tennis is real among them, they will be leaving their playing days in the past as none of the Lady Lions seniors will be continuing their playing career at the next level, but they all plan to attend college and continue their education.