Triumph on the Court

Despite the successful outcome of the matches, gator boys experienced some difficulties within the weather and had to adjust accordingly. In the second round, the day took a rainy turn resulting in indoor matches in the morning. Bilder and Wesslund didn’t let the unfortunate circumstances impact their play. However, there were still plenty of challenges they had to adapt to even when outside. Bilder talks about how he had to battle the sun while serving, resulting in many footfaults. On the contrary, Merkel and Joel were lucky enough to play all their matches outside, which is what they were hoping for. Merkel states that his biggest weather challenge was the intense winds.

Playing in any state championship comes with intense anxiety. Merkel states that it was nerve racking “knowing that the match against Westside could be our last match ever.” He overcame it by “putting a lot of trust and faith in my partner as well as just believing in our team.”Merkel believes that it is important to feed off of each other’s energy because they play very emotionally. Merkel and Joel’s main goal throughout this season has been to keep each other up and try not to think about themselves. They achieve this by meeting after each point to give high fives, discuss the point, and keep their spirits up.

With state being the last matches of the season, it was important for players to reflect on what they’ve learned throughout the season. When asking Bilder what he learned this season, he claims it was “the importance of making sure [his] serves go in because it would usually result in winning 80% of the points.” On the mental side of it, Merkel addresses “the importance of having a positive mindset and believing in yourself but also being able to reset.” The Lincoln North star boys’ success at the State Championship serves as a testament to their dedication, resilience, and the faith they put in themselves and their teammates.