WALTON GIRLS’ TENNIS SETS RECORD: Roberta Manheim comments on her team’s seventh straight state title

In what has become a regular routine, the Walton Lady Raider tennis team won yet another state tennis title this year, its seventh straight. Walton also set a state record with its 133rd straight victory. This year, though, was not quite the cakewalk to the title as years past have been.

After not dropping a single match-point last year, the Lady Raiders ran into a bit of trouble against quarterfinal opponent (and state-ranked No. 2) Peachtree Ridge and in the finals against Centennial. The Lions of Peachtree Ridge took an early lead against Walton before the Lady Raiders steadied the ship and won 3-1. In the finals, Centennial pushed Walton to the limit before Coach Roberta Manheim’s squad walked away with a 3-2 match win.
"This year was a little bit different for us since [we] had 10 returning juniors," said Mannheim.
With all of them so close in rankings, they were the ‘bread and butter’ of the lineup this year." Manheim called this a unique season in that the roster was senior-less, but that didn’t deter the girls. "I really don’t look at grade but rather ability," says Manheim as she shrugged off her lack of seniors. "Everyone on the team knows she is a part of something special."
The players who make up the Walton team all come in as experienced tournament players with a mental toughness that Manheim describes as "unequaled." "They are [on the team] because they have the ability to be part of the team and need to be ready to play."
Manheim stresses the team and it shows. Whatever players are not on the court playing are on the sidelines cheering, and Manheim believes that everyone plays an important part in every victory. "They care about each other and don’t want to let their team members down."
Against Peachtree Ridge when the Lions grabbed an early point, Walton didn’t panic. "Peachtree Ridge was the challenge we knew it would be; however, the girls believed in themselves and in each other. After Maxie Weinberg fell in No. 2 singles, Walton recovered to take the No. 1 doubles point as well as the No. 3 singles point thanks to Stephanie Falcon. Emily Zabor won a three-set thriller at No. 1 singles 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to ice the match for the Raiders. The girls never panicked and breezed through the semi-finals. In the finals, the girls once again faced adversity but once again the mental toughness of Walton prevailed. "They have three years invested in this streak," said Manheim, "and no one wants to be the one to see it end."
Manheim constantly stresses to focus on the now. "You can’t look back and you can’t worry about what’s to come, you have to play what’s in front of you." One point, one game at a time, one set and one match at a time. That theme has worked for Walton for seven straight titles and 133 matches, and with potentially ten juniors and two freshmen returning as ten seniors and two sophomores, this streak is sure to set a new state record and could end with an eighth title next season.