Tuscola doubles pair claims conference crown, brings undefeated record into regionals

Oct. 22—Coming off a regional appearance a season ago, Tuscola tennis doubles partners Anneke Lam and Cooper Richardson set goals to improve on that performance as seniors. They've done exactly that, wrapping up the Mountain Seven conference tournament as champions without a loss all season.

"I feel like we've grown a lot in the last four years we've played, so I feel like having all these wins come to us our senior year is like seeing how our hard work has paid off," Lam said. "So I wouldn't say I expected it, but it feels good."

After a first round bye at the conference tournament last week, Lam and Richardson won three matches to claim first place, knocking off West Henderson's top doubles team 7-5, 6-3 in the finals.

Tuscola head coach Andrew Johnson said Lam and Richardson's goal coming into the season was to improve on last year's regionals appearance and move on to the state tournament.

"They said they wanted to go to states and they've done everything so far to prove that they can," Johnson said.

The pair has played together since freshman year, having four years of experience with each other under their belts that has given them the chance to learn the ins and outs of each other's games.

"I honestly think that's why we do so well," Richardson said.

Lam also credited their expertise at communicating with each other on the court as a key factor to their success.

"We're to the point where we almost don't have to say what we're going to do, we just kind of know what the other person's game plan is," Lam said.

Lam and Richardson exited the regional tournament after the first round a season ago, but Johnson is confident they can improve on that finish this year.

"Anneke and Cooper, they're no strangers. They know what it takes," Johnson said. "I think they know exactly what the mistakes were last year and what they need to do to overcome that. I have full faith that they can get past there," Johnson said.

But the upperclassmen leaders looking to finish their careers with a bang aren't the only regional qualifiers from Tuscola. Freshman Sierra Sellars finished third in singles at the conference tournament to punch her ticket to the regional round, too.

Sellars played at the No. 3 seed on the team for most of the regular season behind Lam and Richardson respectively.

"I was initially a little disappointed with third. I loved that I got there but I was aiming for first or second," Sellars said. "I got to take into consideration that I'm still a freshman and I need to take advantage of the time that I do have and just be grateful for getting third place, because that's not really expected from a freshman or someone who plays third seed for their team."

As a freshman playing a varsity sport for the first time, Sellars said she learned a lot from the senior leadership of Lam and Richardson.

"Since they've been playing so long, they always know what to say and how to encourage others," Sellars said. "I really appreciate that because going in as a freshman, I'm the only freshman on the team so I didn't really know what to expect."

Sellars also pointed out how a freshman coming right in and playing so well might not always be appreciated by upperclassmen, but that the ones on her team were excited for her early success.

"I really appreciate them just being open and kind and taking me under their wing," Sellars said.

Sellars fell to Franklin's No. 1 seed before knocking off Pisgah's No. 1 seed, Sara Parrott, in the third place match. The top four finishers from the conference earned a berth in regionals so Parrott, a senior, also earned a chance to move on from the conference round.

After combining to win five matches as a team over the previous two seasons, Tuscola turned it around this season, finishing at 9-4 overall with three players advancing to regionals. Johnson is pleased with the direction the program is heading.

"It's fun to say I've got all-conference players," Johnson said with a laugh. "It's exciting to be able to be a sport that can brag about that."