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Strong teamwork on the tennis court doesn’t happen for everyone.
“The biggest thing is they’re best friends off the court, so a lot of times that comraderie, that chemistry will flow right onto the tennis court,” said Bolivar Tennis Coach Nathan Rothdiener.
Even as best friends, Bolivar seniors Lexi Berry and Megan Roberts have their differences.
“So I love singles, it’s a lot of fun and I like it because I don’t feel a lot of pressure,” Lexi said.
“Singles, I am actually not a huge fan of because in doubles I love having somebody to turn to,” Megan added.
Maybe that difference of opinion actually helps these two.
“I think we balance each other super well,” Lexi said.
Whatever it is, they’ve helped Bolivar win 33 matches the last two years while advancing to state as a doubles team last season.
By watching them, you’d think they had been playing their whole lives, but neither played much tennis before high school.
“They’re both so coachable,” Rothdiener said. “They’re like a sponge and you help them and you say ‘hey try this’ and it’s like oh the light bulb clicks on.”
The result has been a strong run of success.
Yet, they’ll both tell you it’s not just about wins and losses.
“If the freshmen see me in a match and I get mad at myself, they might thing ‘oh maybe I need to be doing that, maybe that will make me better, but I want them to know that you have to have fun with it,” Megan said.
“I just hope to be as much of an influence on people as the seniors were to me my freshman year,” Lexi added.
It’s that sort of leadership that makes coaching this duo so easy.
“They’re good leaders, they’re good tennis players but they’re good people and they’re good examples and role models for the rest of the kids and that’s the biggest thing and that’s what I want,” Rothdiener said.
That is what makes Lexi and Megan this week’s Arby’s High School Athletes of the Week.
