The year 2003 was the last time the Walton girls tennis team has lost a match. That particular loss took place in the state championship finals. A lot has changed since then but the one constant has been a zero in the loss column for the Lady Raiders. Since falling in the 2003 finals, head coach Roberta Manheim’s squads have won 116 straight matches, including 17 straight this season and six straight state titles, including the 2009 crown.
The 2009 edition consisted of four seniors and ten sophomores, and Coach Manheim believed that as the season went along, “the girls felt the pressure of the winning streak.” Manheim believed that some of the girls might have put too much pressure on themselves. “No one wanted to be the one to let the rest of the team down by losing.” The two seniors Elizabeth Kilborn at No.1 singles and No.2 Emily Lauten would not let that happen as they preached the team concept. Kilborn was did not lose a match all season and despite a bout with Mono, Lauten was also undefeated until the final day of the season. Lauten was able to win in the semi-finals against Colquitt but lost later that same day to Centennial in the finals. Walton was so dominant that the 3-1 win in the state championship was the only single match the team dropped all season en route to the 17-0 record and the state title.
Both Kilborn and Lauten will take their talents to ACC schools next season (Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, respectively) but the Walton Lady Radiers will just reload. Manheim is “excited about the prospects for next season with 5 of 7 starters returning.” This year’s No.3 Emily Zabor should move up along with likely two of the other sophomores Kayla Brady, Maxie Weinberg (the No.1 doubles team this season), Stephanie Falcon, and Claire Marshall (No.2 doubles). Of the underclassmen, Manheim says “they are tremendously talented athletes, but talent along will get you only so far.” She notes that the large class genuinely cares about each other and they “feel a real sense of pride at keeping the winning streak alive.”
Manheim’s motto is “One match at a time” and she preaches it throughout the season. While it might be hard to keep one match in perspective when a 116 game winning streak is always at stake, but Manheim says that if each player takes care of her business on her own court, the wins and titles will take care of themselves. The motto seems to be working and with this group returning, a seventh and eighth title don’t seem that farfetched. Of all of the state’s athletic dynasties, this one could be the most dominant in quite some time. Girl power lives at Walton and might continue for another 116 matches.
Proctor can be reached at fproctor@scoreatl.com.
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