This spring was to be the 30th season for Coupeville High School tennis coach Ken Stange. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic closed schools, erased spring sports, and prevented Senior Nights.
With that in mind, we’ve been giving Whidbey Island students and coaches a chance to offer those farewells online instead of in person.
Today, Coupeville High School girls tennis guru Ken Stange swings by to offer some heartfelt words.
In tennis, and in life, there are times when one just knows … knows how things are going to turn out.
Certainty. Well, almost certainty.
After 15 years at the helm of the CHS tennis program (that’s 30 seasons, if you count both the boys and girls), I’ve gotten to the point where I know if someone, or a doubles pair, is a serious threat to earn a state berth.
I knew it with Julia Sierra Castano, the Spanish Assassin.
I knew it with Aaron Curtin and Ben Etzell, and again when Aaron went to state in singles.
I knew it with Payton Aparicio and Sage Renninger.
Like I said, sometimes you just know.
Some seasons, you know it’s a rebuild. Other seasons, you know there’s a deep but inexperienced team.
This year? I knew.
I knew that we had a group of new players that would learn the game from their captains, Avalon (Renninger) and Tia (Wurzrainer).
I knew we were returning all three of our doubles teams.
Jaimee (Masters), Emily (Fiedler), Eryn (Wood), and Abby (Mulholland) were primed to win buckets of matches.
I knew that all three doubles teams were pretty damn good last season, and that this season, our team would challenge for a league title.
I knew we would have competitive matches with our Island rivals, South Whidbey.
I knew that we had a doubles team, in Avalon and Tia, that would challenge for an elusive state berth.
Avalon Renninger swats a lethal left-handed shot.
This was to be our team’s return to the top.
We were going to do it with hard work and style.
It was the 2020 season, and our team was going to be the focus.
Alas, bigger problems took center stage, and our season was over almost as fast as it started.
I know that public health wins over tennis, every time, and I know that we all made our sacrifices, for the greater good.
That said, I’m still mad as hell. I’m very sad, too.
I feel badly for the ladies that were gearing up for a fun and successful season.
I feel bad for the parents, who love to come out in support of their kids, school, and community.
There are two individuals who, in my opinion, lost a little more than everyone else associated with the program.
Avalon and Tia were the heart and soul of CHS tennis.
Tia Wurzrainer keeps the rally alive.
They were two talented and caring players who continued the proud tradition of the CHS ladies’ tennis team.
They worked their butts off.
As sophomores, they were within a couple of points from clinching a state berth.
As juniors, they ran into a few buzzsaws from Seattle, prematurely ending their season.
Going into the senior campaign, they got to work.
My spine was recovered enough so I could actually hit hard balls at them, and they had Drake Borden, who was basically their personal hitting partner.
With the help from Drake and I, along with Av and Tia’s high levels of talent and work ethic, we are well on our way to a successful season.
I just knew.
Knowing that a potentially successful campaign, and a run to state for Avalon and Tia, has been lost, I’m very sad.
I love it when we have a dominant team. It’s always more fun when winning!
What hurts most about the lost season is not that we lost a chance to be dominant.
What hurts most is that my seniors, Avalon and Tia, were two of the classiest players ever to grace the courts at CHS.
They were fierce competitors and best of friends.
They mentored other players and kept their teammates accountable. They were serious about tennis while maintaining a lighthearted attitude.
Classy, pure and simple.
I’d hoped that they would place themselves at or near the top of my all-time best doubles teams, with a solid senior season and a state berth.
They are still at or near the top of my list, though.
As a pair, they were a force to be reckoned with.
As individuals, they were two of my absolute favorites who led their team with grace, class, and fun.
Tia … calm, cool, and collected.
She would probably argue with me, but I think Tia is perfect.
Kind, intelligent, intuitive, and hard working. I don’t think I ever heard a single negative word pass through her lips.
Her work ethic was second to none. Anyone would be happy to have her as a partner, me included.
Avalon … she holds a special place in my heart because she wears her heart on her sleeve. I can relate to that.
It’s completely honest.
She’s cried, she’s celebrated, and she’s worked her tail off to always improve.
Together, they made a lethal doubles combo.
Each knew how to handle the other. They had a fantastic yin and yang.
Av and Tia grew up with my daughter, Oliana. I’ve known them since they were tots.
Watching them grow and evolve from tots to adults has been a treat.
Having them as part of the tennis program has been an honor.
The competition, the conversations, the post-match meals, the road trips…all made better because of Av and Tia.
