Game, series, match! / North junior plays Republican of the Year as a tennis player

The loss of his second-year tennis season may have been a lying blessing to Columbus North junior Ashlie Wilson.

Last year’s COVID-19 shutdown, played competitively since the age of 7, gave him more free time to re-evaluate the importance of tennis before the summer tournaments picked up last year.

“Taking a break from a tennis competition perspective really taught me a lot. It made me think about a different sport,” Wilson said. “I think that’s the main difference a few years ago to this year.”

Wilson proved his theory correct. He received many thanks for his success last spring, including the appointment of the first team to the All-State, All-District and All-Conference Indiana. He was also North’s captain and was named the team’s most valuable player.

For all of this, there was no doubt that Wilson would be named Republican Girl of the Year Tennis Player for the second time in three years.

“I think the season went really well,” Wilson said. “I know the team didn’t get that far, but I think we’ve all learned from this experience, and we’re just ready to come back stronger next year.”

One of the things Wilson missed most about high school tennis last year was the sport’s team specificity: friendships, friendships, and celebrations with his teammates after huge wins.

“We can only commit to being among all the other girls on the team, training and healing together and going through it all with them all this year,” Wilson said. “This season’s team is the best part of tennis.”

Almost a guaranteed win every time he stepped on the field, Wilson collected a 20-2 personal record in No. 1 doubles and helped the Bull Dogs reach a 20-3 team record. Her only losses came to Carmel’s Emma Brunelle in three sets during a double meeting and to Evansville’s memorial to Ellie Myers at Jasper Semistate.

Wilson proved to be one of Bull Dogs ’toughest and sharpest players, while establishing himself as one of the best players in the state.

“He could definitely play with anyone in the state. At his level of play with girls in this state, his name is mentioned up there with all the other girls among the best tennis players,” North coach Kendal Hammel said. “He’s also worked on it. He hasn’t done anything naturally. He puts extra time on the field and on the field, doing tournaments and hitting tons of balls. He’s the person you even look at as a leader.”

When his season ended, Wilson continued playing tennis. He has practiced almost every day since the end of high school and will be playing in some U.S. Tennis Association national tournaments later this summer.

Wilson works primarily north and indoors at the Tipton Lakes Athletic Club. Sometimes he goes to Center Grove to train and hit with his friend Ashlee Fisk, who was number one in Trojan singles, and sometimes he beats with his sister Kathryn; or with the boys of the northern team and some coaches.

When she doesn’t practice, Ashlie mostly leads a Tipton Lakes reception where her mother, Mary Beth, is the CEO.

Ashlie wants to play tennis with a colleague, and her attractions are either Purdue, Butler or Belmont. Earlier this month, the NCAA raised its dead period, which has been in place since the pandemic, meaning now coaches can return to their normal recruitment calendar and operations, including face-to-face contacts.

With recruitment in full swing again, he hopes to commit to college by the end of the summer or early fall.

“I know he has goals to play college tennis. You have to give him a lot of credit for the work ethic he has in playing and trying to improve his tennis skills,” Hammel said. “He takes care, he does all the things that someone commits to being a better player in a particular sport.”

When the team performed this year, no doubt North will have a chance to do a deep run in the offspring next year.

“Next year we’re going to be very good,” Wilson said. “I think we have a few freshmen coming. I think and with the girls working hard during the offseason, I think we’ll be back stronger next year.”

Hammel still expects Wilson to be in top form and one of the best players next season.

“Because of what he did this year and next year, he’s going to be the dominant player at the high school level next year, no matter what,” Hammel said. “He has the pleasure of being a coach. He has the pleasure of being on a team and working. I don’t have to tell him much. He can go through business as usual. He listens. He always tries to be a better player and do the right things and keep working to make him would be an even better player on the road. “

At a glance