The senior tennis players walked onto their home courts to play their last match on April 11. The sun was shining and spirits were high as the Buffs faced Tennessee Wesleyan in the last conference match of the season.
Seniors from both the men’s and women’s teams, including Becca Guthrie, Abby Allen, Josh Craine, Conly Shults and Daniel Peacock, were honored by their coach, Ryan Reynolds, and teammates before they officially took the court.
The men’s team was already facing a difficult matchup, as Tennessee Wesleyan was ranked No. 21. The Buffs fell 9-0, but that didn’t stop the seniors from enjoying their last time and reminiscing about what tennis had meant to them during their time at Milligan.
“It was really weird playing my last match at Milligan,” Peacock said, “but I’m ready to move forward and will take the many lessons tennis taught me with me into my career.”
Peacock, who was famous on the team for shouting, “Let’s go Buffs!” to cheer on a teammate on the other side of the court, enjoyed the camaraderie the whole team has had.
Shults said that he had met his “best man” (Peacock) for his upcoming wedding through tennis.
“Tennis has really helped me grow and mature as a person,” Shults said. “I’ve made many friends and really enjoyed getting to know people and make those connections.”
Guthrie, who has only been at Milligan for three years, mentioned that she will miss being on the team and appreciates all the friends she has made.
“It’s been a good three years,” Guthrie said. “I’ve improved in my tennis skills and made some great friends. For that reason, I’m sad I’m graduating, but I’m ready to move on!”
Craine has played every spot on the men’s team; last year he played in the No. 1 slot while this year he plays four. As a political science major, he found that being a student athlete has been pretty tough.
“Being a political science major was already hard enough, but adding tennis to that was extra difficult,” Craine said. “I really had to use my time wisely while I attended Milligan. It’s a lot of time management and doing work ahead of time.”
Though Craine, who was awarded Academic All-Conference, recalls many of his days studying, practicing and studying some more, he said, “I wouldn’t trade any of this (tennis experience) for the world. I’ve made many great friends and learned so much about who I am.”
The crew of seniors has remained close as the years have gone by. Their junior year Shults, Peacock and Craine all lived together.
Allen has been No. 1 on the women’s team for two years and remembers playing on the team her sophomore year when the Lady Buffs won conference.
“I’ve really enjoyed being competitive the last four years,” Allen said. “It’s really helped me grow as a person.”
Allen also mentioned that she enjoyed meeting many people through tennis. She met her now boyfriend, Craine, at a high school, mixed doubles tournament and beat him. Little did they know that they would be playing on the same team in college.
“Even though the seniors will be gone next year, we picked up really good young players this year,” Craine said. “I think we will keep building on that foundation and will do well.”
Kennedy Weber is also a member of the women’s tennis team.
