The Cardinal Gibbons tennis team finished their season with a near-perfect record of 25-1.

Unfortunately, the team lost in the championship 5-3 to Providence High from Charlotte, but their effort was unmatched.

“This is truly just a really good group of girls,” said coach Andrew Tuttle. 

This team is led to success by Tuttle and assistant coach Caroline Igo.

“Although we didn’t come home with the win at states, this season has been an incredible journey. We pushed ourselves further than we thought possible. Making it to states was a huge achievement, and it’s something we should all be proud of,” senior Lilly Fisher said.  “The lessons we learned and the bonds we’ve built will stay with us long after the season ends. I’m grateful for every friendship made, every match, and every part of this experience. We’ve proven how strong and resilient we are and this year’s team is something to be proud of.” 

The work ethic of this team is unmatched. The team always showed up for practice ready to give their all, no matter what had happened earlier in the day.

This team had eight seniors, which resulted in a unique type of chemistry compared to a regular team. Throughout the season, Celeste Davis was a top performer, the first seed for singles, with a record of 16-3. In the first seed for doubles, Anya Aga and Celeste Davis, the former a freshman and the latter a senior, were first with a record of 10-2.

“Overall I think we had a really special group this year. We had mainly seniors and freshmen, so it made for a different dynamic and we had to learn how to be friends before we could be teammates. That helped us because we really learned how to lean on one another and trust each other,” said senior Ava Staub.

Tennis has helped young individuals grow to become independent and courageous within themselves.

“This year compared to my freshman year showed a lot of growth for me as an individual. This year on varsity made me truly feel like all the hard work I had put in over the past few years to be a member of this team was truly worth it. It was a really cool experience to get to see how my confidence and ability has improved drastically since freshman year,” said Fisher.

The departure of these girls will be a great loss to the team, however, the moments spent with them will be cherished forever. “Time seems to fly when you’re having fun” has never felt like a more realistic saying to these core eight senior girls.

“I think that any time it is your senior year it comes with not only a lot of pressure to do well, but with the realization that it is your last time. You are constantly saying things like ‘first last match of the season’ or ‘last match ever on our courts.’ You really just start to sit back and take in that this is truly your last time doing a sport you love playing,” said Staub.

Staub won the Scholar-Athlete Award for having the best academic performance despite an intense tennis schedule, with a GPA of 4.72.

“I think tennis is so time-consuming. I mean, Coach Tuttle always gives us a super hard match schedule. Usually, you’re supposed to have 12 matches a season, but we ended up having 26. It’s really important to separate sports from school and not let them mix. At the end of the day, you can’t just put the student in student-athlete or just put the athlete in student-athlete. It’s important to balance and do both,” said Staub.

Balancing school and sports is an incredibly important aspect of life, and accomplishing it well is an even harder feat.

Being a sport with low attendance, creating your habitat of liveliness is important.

“My favorite part of the team was our great energy. We were super supportive so you felt very comfortable and you felt very able to be yourself. When you don’t have a big fan base constantly coming to your matches, I feel like you have to have that energy, or else you’re not going to perform well,” said Staub.

Despite the low attendance of tennis matches, the girls continue to create a positive, fun environment for themselves.

“My favorite part of the team is the energy and positive atmosphere we create as a group. Even after a hard day at school I could look forward to coming to tennis practice and get cheered up by the girls surrounding me. The atmosphere before our rival match against Brouton was also incredible. I loved watching how my teammates were immediately energized and pumped up and ready to bring home the win,” said Fisher.

The Definition of Sisterhood

The dictionary defines sisterhood as a group of girls linked by a common interest. However, to the tennis team, the meaning of sisterhood runs deep beneath the surface.

“I would define sisterhood as a place where everyone constantly supports each other and is a shoulder that their fellow teammates can lean on. I think this definition relates to our team because even during the hard matches, we knew the players on the court and off the court were able to be supportive of one another. We were always, always there supporting each other through the bad and good,” said senior Kaya Jantac.

The seniors especially prioritize making the team a family where everyone is accepted.

“Sisterhood to me is the supportive bond I share with my fellow teammates, where we lift each other up, celebrate successes, and empower one another. To me, it is about creating a community of trust in one another and overcoming challenges together. I watched us grow throughout the season, we were no longer teammates but sisters who truly cared about each other. When one of us succeeded on the court, we all felt that sense of pride for the team. We were a group of young women who empowered one another on or off the court,” said Fisher.

The sisterhood is not just about playing this sport together, it is about creating a family where each member feels valued and supported. On the court, the athletes push each other to reach their fullest potential. Their journey throughout the seasons fosters a deep connection that intensifies their game by creating a system of trust, encouragement, and safety. Off the court, the sisterhood continues to blossom. 

“My favorite part of the team was the constant support and seeing the familiar faces in the hallways and knowing that we created a friendship from being on the team together. Everything was just so authentic and all the girls are always super nice and kind. We had a really special group of girls that really helped us succeed,” said Jantac.

The girls are always there for each other throughout the day. This nurturing environment helps each player grow as an individual along with as an athlete. This team has a sense of belonging and unity, making the girls a family. Their unity enhances their performance on the court as well as enriches their lives. 

This team has created lifelong memories and friendships that will endure long after the season.

“This season was just straight out of the books,” said Jantac.