West Holmes tennis star and State champion Rachel Nelson seeks to follow up a perfect year
Front: Emily Safarik (L), Madeleine Knebusch, Tara Ferrell, Lexi Hutchison, Elise Knebusch, Natalie Molnar, Shyann Kick, Megan Horsely, Rebekah Cagle, Brittany Phillips and Serena Miller. Back: Savannah Yoder, Chelsea Black, Lydia Schonauer, Marki Hogle, Morgan Wagers, Hannah Frank, Rachel Nelson and Stormi Morris.
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Where do you go after achieving perfection?
That is the question facing West Holmes senior tennis sensation Rachel Nelson this season on the heels of a State title in Div. II girls tennis as a junior last year.
How dominant was she along the way? Not only was she undefeated, and not only did she win a State championship, she became the first West Holmes tennis player to even reach the State tournament, let alone win it all. Rarely was she even challenged throughout the season.
And amidst all of the accolades, all of the awards and honors and all of the admiration, Nelson remains humble and upbeat about the coming year, a year that could well move her into the realm of Ohio’s greatest girls tennis players ever.
How has she handled the pressure and accolades that accompany such lofty grandeur? All in stride.
“I try not to think about any of that,” said Nelson of her perfect 2011 season. “That is the past and it isn’t going to win me any games this year. I just want to forget about last year, go out and play hard and win games this year. Every time I step on the court it is an opportunity to go out and prove myself all over again.”
What makes that goal tough isn’t always the task of winning games. Nelson will do plenty of that this year, many of them coming with a 6-0, 6-0 after her name in the match wrap-up.
What may be a bigger challenge for her is staying on top of her game physically, where she should have no problem because she is a relentless worker, but more importantly mentally, where a lot of easy matches can put a player into cruise control, and take away some of that competitive fire that drives all great players.
That, Nelson said, is going to be a key challenge to her goal of capturing a repeat State title.
“You got to learn how to do the extra things that make you better, and sometimes that is fighting past some of the mental things that can get in your way,” said Nelson. “When you go through a stretch of easier matches, that is when you have to work extra hard on the little thing that make you better. You have to practice that much harder, focus that much more and work even harder.”
That is where Nelson has a built-in bonus. At any time, when she feels like she needs to really zero in, she can turn to her State-qualifying brother, West Holmes junior Danny Nelson, and get a real challenge on the court.
“That’s nice to have that option,” said Nelson of practicing with her brother. “I am sure I will be utilizing his skills plenty this fall.”
As for a repeat of last year’s championship run, the goal is there, but it is not one Nelson dwells upon as she progresses through the year. She isn’t fixated on it with posters hanging in her locker and on the walls of her room that say “State Champ Or Bust.”
“That is such a long way down the road,” said Nelson. “There is a lot of tennis to be played before that ever happens. Yes, that is a goal, but it isn’t something that I think about all the time. It is just one of many. It’s a process.”
As for capturing the school’s first-ever State tennis title last year, Nelson said that was a run she will never forget, and she said that winning for herself, her family, her school and her community was an awesome experience.
“What a fantastic opportunity,” said Nelson. “That doesn’t come along all the time, and I will cherish that forever.”
For the Nelson family, tennis kind of comes pretty much around the time you move out of diapers, and Rachel is no exception. She began playing when she was 7 years old, and has been diligently working at it ever since.
If she isn’t at practice or a match with her team, she is more than likely playing her brother or finding a playing partner from Columbus, anything to get better.
Playing all year around, the amount of time put into practice would amaze most people.
“I am a very competitive person,” admitted Nelson. “I love the challenge, and I love match play. I think the idea of making myself better is what drives me.”
What lies ahead for Nelson, whether another State title is in the cards, or should it be the college ranks calling, is solely up to her. How high she flies, how far she reaches, will not be stifled due to a lack of effort.
“Rachel is a coach’s dream, a once-in-a-lifetime kid,” said West Holmes coach Jason Otto. “She has ‘It.’ Last year, before the State championship, she was sitting around laughing and having a great time, cool as a cucumber. She is very gifted but she is incredibly humble. Chances of us having someone like this come along again are about zero. She is just that much of a talent.”
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With Nelson seemingly dominating at the top of the totem pole for the Lady Knights, Otto said that it is nice to only have to split 2-2 every match.
But he has plenty of experience at first doubles, where seniors Hannah Frank and Chelsea Black provide talent and experience. Marki Hogle gives him a real shot at victory in second singles, having only lost twice last year at third singles, while hard-hitting Morgan Wagers has been nothing short of sensational at third singles, dominating play early this year.
The second doubles team has fallen to youngsters Savannah Yoder and Stormi Thomas, who have been a revelation early on, Otto enjoying seeing them grow and succeed, which will only help them gain confidence.
“We’ve got four kids who are vying for that last spot, and we may do some rotating, but so far Stormi has come out and won the job,” said Otto of his sophomore. “It’s nice having those seniors at the top of the singles and doubles. They have been through it and know how to win and have proven they are very capable of winning on a regular basis.”
