For a doubles team, having one player who is injured can impede the team’s chances at winning state. Lauren DeRousse and Christine Schlafly are trying to accomplish this task, but there is one serious problem: they both have shoulder injuries.

Last season, the girls finished 3rd in the state competition and look to improve this year. “It’d be cool to beat people who we lost to last year,” said Schlafly. “Our goal for the season is to win state. Winning state is really tough, but it will be even tougher because of our shoulder injuries. Mine hurts a lot,” said DeRousse.

These injuries aren’t affecting the girls’ work ethic. Lauren and Christine frequently practice on Saturdays and Sundays in addition to their Monday through Friday practices and matches. “The more we practice, the better chance we have at winning,” said Schlafly.

The girls trained in the offseason together too. They traveled to Iowa City last July to play in the Outdoor Eastern Iowa Futures, in which they played doubles together. Lauren and Christine finished 2nd in doubles, and Christine placed 6th in the singles draw. “We’re hoping all this hard work will pay off in Springfield,” said DeRousse.

But to do damage in Springfield, the girls will have to make it there first. Lauren and Christine compete in district play this week at MICDS, with the big match to make state taking place on Wednesday.