Senior Shine: Mid-South Illinois
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For many of our Mid-South Illinois high school seniors, their final season was cut short. As our way of celebrating all of these wonderful players, we have gathered stories from across Mid-South Illinois to celebrate our amazing class of 2020! Congratulations on a great high school tennis career, we can't wait to see what's in store next.
Zach Willing, Quincy High School
What will you miss most about high school tennis?
I miss traveling every weekend with my teammates. I like the chance to practice daily. I miss eating out too! I am tired of my mom's cooking.
What are your plans for playing tennis after high school?
I plan to attend Quincy University in the Fall. I am looking forward to being a Hawk and playing tennis again.
What is your go-to shot on court?
My go-to shot on court is probably an inside-out forehand.
Who is your favorite tennis player?
Nadal is my favorite tennis player because he plays every point like it is his last.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
See ball, hit ball.
Shaling Reynolds, Rochester High School
What is your strength on the court? Weakness on the court?
My strength is my backhand. My weakness is my forehand.
Who is your favorite tennis player?
My favorite tennis player is Naomi Osaka because I really like the way she plays and how she plays. She is very respectful towards her opponent. I also like her personality, she’s very likable.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is you can’t always be negative while you’re playing because that will ruin your performance. I don’t remember who said that to me, I think it was Sonthana. At least something similar.
What are your hobbies outside of tennis?
I like to play badminton. I don’t know why, but it looks fun!
Did you prefer singles or doubles and why?
I very much prefer doubles because I love to play at the net. I like to smack the ball and finish the points. I don’t really like to play long rallies because I get very nervous each shot I play.
Will Bruns, Carbondale Community High School
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