Waubonsie Valley’s Drone proving to be leader

Updated: September 29, 2011 6:18PM

It takes a person with a lot of character to take over the role Katie Drone has played for Waubonsie Valley’s tennis team this year.

Drone, junior, who, according to coach Phil Galow, “is vastly improved over last year and working hard to keep getting better,” is playing first singles and with that duty goes the honor of facing many of the top singles players in the state.

“She’s taking some losses against very good opponents, such as last year’s state runner-up Keisha Clousing (Wheaton Warrenville South),” said Galow. “But Katie has really improved her racquet-head speed and her fundamentals. She’s also showing the tennis intellect that’s hard to teach. And she goes out after a loss without any complaint.”

The coach said Drone is beating everyone at about her level and a few who are a little better, but when it comes to the high-profile stars she’s been taking some losses for the tam.

Drone doesn’t mind those matches that find her at a disadvantage because she is exhilarated by the experience of just playing people who are that good.

“I love the challenge,” said Drone, who did well on the USTA circuit in the offseason. “Every match gives me an opportunity to improve and even in a 6-0 loss I get a chance to show what I can do. If you play against the best you learn something in every match win or lose, and you come to believe that you will be that good one day. That really motivates me. This is probably the best season of my high school career.”

Galow praised Drone’s parents for the support and encouragement they’ve given her.

“She’s a positive kid and her parents are perfect in the way they stand by her,” said Galow. “She’s a solid student and she’s having a great time having the team experience. The family has a realistic approach to the sport. Katie has really been a bright spot on a team that overall has not shown the consistent play that we like to see.”

Neuqua Valley coach Trudy Bennorth calls Megan Hannigan “the real deal, the whole package.”

Hannigan, who played fourth doubles last year, has taken her game to a level where Bennorth is comfortable slotting her where she’s needed.

“At two doubles, Hannigan and Riti Vohra are doing an excellent job,” said Bennorth. “In a recent tournament I used them at one-doubles.”

Hannigan is a softball player (a centerfielder) who doesn’t play tennis all year-round, but she’s athletic enough to just pick up a racquet and contribute immediately, even at singles.

“In the past I’ve played both singles and doubles,” said Hannigan. “But I prefer doubles because I like to be a team player and that turns tennis into a team sport. I like having someone on the court to talk to and strategize with. But, I really don’t care what position I play. I’ll go anywhere to get points for the team.”

An excellent student, Hannigan, who is also active in the community service club Interact, is thinking about a career in medicine.

“Megan is just a neat kid,” said Bennorth. “She’s a great athlete, she’s really coachable and she’s always in a positive mood.”

The depth of talent on the Benet girls tennis team is becoming almost legendary.

We all know that coach Bob Comerford returns his entire state-qualifying team from last year and they’re playing at an even higher level this season with a 15-1 record, losing only to Hinsdale Central.

But a little below the radar screen is the Redwings third doubles team of junior Olivia Watson and sophomore Maggie Wilhelm, who have a record of 16-0.

Comerford believes the two would play second doubles on most teams, and they could take the Benet second spot next year when Madeline Carney and Kim Simmons will have graduated.

“At the end of last year Olivia and Maggie saw what they needed to do,” said Comerford. “They’re goal-driven girls and they each have a great work ethic. They went out and put in the time together in the off-season.

Comerford described the girls’ on-court demeanor as “edgy.”

“They’re intense on the court, they have real attitude,” Comerford said. “They’re out there to beat you. They get mad at themselves but they work together to keep everything on an even keel.”

To get the third doubles position Watson and Wilhelm had to beat out last year’s third doubles conference champions Maya KcKeown and Carter Jankauskas, giving the Redwings an outstanding fourth doubles team as well.

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