Leah Jones, Elise Duke, and Jenny Powless took on the Tennis State Tournament on Thursday, October 24th.  

Jones finished Top 24 in singles, while Duke and Powless got Flora on the team leaderboard with their double win. “Going to the Tennis State Tournament was an unforgettable experience.  The thrill of competing was amazing,” said Jones.

The three qualifiers and some fellow teammates made the journey up to Chicago on Wednesday.

“We had a team dinner at Maggianos, went to the mall, and got ice cream,” Duke shares.

The girls enjoyed their calm day of team bonding before the pressure of the tournament.

“It was the perfect blend of competition and bonding,” added Jones.

Following their day full of fun, they were ready to take on the wrath of teams coming at them from all directions.  

Competing against highly skilled players, the girls ran into challenges, but that didn’t stop them.

“Competing against high skilled players pushed me to step up my game, while also dealing with an injury,”  Jones said.

While competing in sectionals, Leah Jones injured herself.  She persevered while dealing with this injury, showing the not-so-glamorous side of being an athlete.

“The pain often was difficult to bear, testing my endurance and focus. It limited a lot of my movement, making it harder to play to my usual level.”  Jones shares.

She continued to advance despite being unable to play to her full potential.

Despite their setbacks and challenges, they had a fantastic experience, making many memories.

“Jenny tried making coffee in the hotel room, spilled it on herself, and burnt her arm,”  Duke adds, reflecting on a funny memory.

The tournament showcased not only their extraordinary talent but also the fun and less serious side of sports.

“In the end, we represented our school well,” says Duke.