An Expanding Program

Cameron Smith - Staff Writer
November 17, 2009
Filed under Sports

Last month, juniors Lauren DeRousse and Christine Schlafly took home Westminster’s first state tennis championship. This was the biggest success in the Westminster tennis program’s history.
“It certainly shows the girls that it is possible to rise to a new level of accomplishment,” said Nathan Talley, head tennis coach. Talley believes that this championship will inspire future girls teams to achieve greatness.
Talley believes there will be many benefits because of this great victory,
“In the short term, I think it inspires us all to become better than we once were,” said Talley. He believes this big success will build the program tremendously.
Talley also thinks this accomplishment is deeper than just tennis.
“Going to state is about great tennis, yes, but also great memories created around great relationships,” said Talley.
The girls’ team is growing in recognition. Next year the team will move up to the top division of their conference. This new, eight team, conference will include St. Joseph’s, MICDS, visitation, and Nerinx Hall. The girls won their division this year.
“It’s an honor to join those teams because they have the best players in the state represented,” said Talley.
Lauren and Christine have also helped inspire the boys’ tennis team to win state as a team in the 2010 season.
“Certainly our boys team this year has a great opportunity of strong excellence, and even from seeing and sharing in our sisters’ new heights, it should also remind us that we are part of something very special at Westminster: Teams that care to reach the highest level possible and teams where the teammates are good to each other. Lauren and Christine model both of those things,” said Talley.
The new founded success of the Westminster tennis program is dedicated to Talley. He has been with the program from the beginning, being the first Westminster student to qualify for the state tournament. Talley did it twice: once in 1991 and once in 1993. Talley is known in the tennis community as a great coach who made an average program into a great one. He has led 4 boys’ teams to the final four and has coached a doubles team to a state championship. Talley will be honored in December with the “2009 Missouri Valley Outstanding Coach of the Year Award.”