Page 18 - All Arkansas Preps 2020

18M Sunday, June 28, 2020 | All-Arkansas Preps | Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
ELLA COLEMAN FRESHMAN / BENTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
GIRLS TENNIS
ELLA’S
■ GPA: 3.4
■ Volunteers with First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville
■ Ranked 45th nationally in girls 14s
■ Universal Tennis Rating record: 45-23
■ Tennis RPI: 29, January 2020
■ Competes with the United States Tennis Association
■ Practices three to four hours a day on weekdays, plus match plays on Saturdays
■ FUTURE PLANS: To play tennis at the University of South Carolina
>> WHY SHE WON
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Bentonville Tiger Ella Coleman, 14, earned her stripes during her very first season with the high school tennis team, and she also earned the title of All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Player of the Year for Girls Tennis. “I’m thankful for having a ... high school team that is really supportive,” Coleman said. “It’s really exciting [to win this award].
I feel like it’s a great accomplishment, and I’m happy about it.” e freshman won the state Overall girls singles title this season, beating Mount St. Mary Academy senior Presley Southerland
in straight sets during the championship match. Coleman lost to Presley 6-2, 6-1 in the 6A state finals but won the championship after Presley retired in the second set because of a back injury. Coleman said she learned from
her mistakes during the state finals and worked to
improve ball control and serve with more variety for the
championship match. Emily Dillard, head tennis coach
at Bentonville High School, said Coleman overcame
adversity and demonstrated good sportsmanship
during several matches this season. “I believe she has
earned this recognition through hours of training,
countless weekends traveling and overall determination
to become the best in the state at this sport,” Dillard said.
“Ella makes me very proud to be a tennis coach, and to have
her on the team has been a joy.” Ella’s mother, Amanda Coleman,
said her daughter has had a competitive mindset since she
first picked up a tennis racket at age 5 after her older sister had
started the sport. “She has worked extremely hard for many years to see that hard work pay off — makes us very proud,” Amanda said. “ e most important thing that makes us proud is that she is a sweet kid with a kind heart.” Ella said she hopes to keep the momentum she gained during her freshman year going throughout high school and into college. “It feels amazing [to have earned this award as a freshman],” she said. “I want to keep it going in the upcoming years, not take my foot off the pedal and just keep grinding.”
I WAS VERY EXCITED that I was able to get this award as a freshman, and I was actually surprised, too.” — Ella Coleman, OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR GIRLS TENNIS