The last time ETHS sent players to State for girls tennis was back in 2018, but this year, senior Mia Darer and junior Linden Wadsworth ended that six-year drought. After a stellar season, the two earned their place in the State tournament, proudly representing ETHS.
Wadsworth has been playing tennis since she was five and quickly fell in love with the game’s competitiveness. The hard work throughout her childhood paid off this year with her State qualification.
“I work really hard in the offseason and especially in the summer. I play for about eight hours most weeks, along with competing in USTA tournaments,” Wadsworth said.
Darer’s passion for tennis comes from her family. Her aunt, former ETHS Varsity Tennis coach Joyce Anderson, and her mom, who also played in high school, inspired her early on. She has been training in tennis clinics throughout her youth and has developed a strong love for the game.
“I love being able to build each point and strategize. When I’m playing, I get into a rhythm, always thinking about how my next shot can move my opponent around,” Darer shared.
Even though this year was the girls’ first year playing together as doubles partners throughout the whole season, they developed a synergy that was a key part of their success.
“As a doubles team, we work together and play off each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In some matches, she’s better at the net, or I’m better at the baseline. We use those moments to set each other up,” said Darer.
At State, Darer and Wadsworth got off to a slow start in their first match where nerves seemed to affect the duo, and they lost in a tiebreaker to Matea Valley.
“We were a little tight during our first match; for me, it was because I put too much pressure on myself,” Wadsworth admitted.
The two recovered really nicely though and exceeded expectations in the consolation bracket. They won three straight matches, including a win against a tough duo from Highland Park, in the consolation bracket before losing their fourth match. Their performance matched the program’s highest finish in doubles which was set in 2015 by former Kits Jessica Ampel and Abbey Moore.
“After that first match, Linden and I played a lot looser. We knew that just making it there was an accomplishment, and we felt no pressure. We were playing for each other,” Darer explained.
Although the team didn’t do as much damage in the winner’s bracket as they would have liked, the two had a lot to be proud of—they had given it their all.
“Overall, I feel like we were just really happy and grateful to be there,” said Wadsworth. “It was amazing to watch and play against the best teams in the state.”
