IOWA CITY — Emotions poured out of Clarke senior Sydnee Redman Thursday afternoon.
What the past four years of playing tennis for Clarke meant to her, the bond she shared with doubles partner Sydney Sickels, head coach Jeff Ehrhardt and assistant Aaron O’Tool showed.
The pain of having the dream of returning to Osceola without a state medal was evident.
As Redman embraced her partner of three years in Sickels, a junior, teammates Deseree Stubbe and Megan Linskens showed in the tears streaming down her face.
Later, there was the safe, loving embrace with her mother Beth to help ease the hurt of a career coming to an end.
Clarke’s two doubles teams fell short of reaching the medal round on day one in Class 1A action at the girls state tennis tournament Thursday at the University of Iowa Tennis Center in Iowa City.
“It’s meant a lot,” Redman said, fighting back the tears. “Tennis has always been my favorite sport.”
Redman was apprehensive as a freshman to even go out.
What four years with Ehrhardt and the team will be with Redman for years to come.
“It’s been really, really good to me,” Redman said. “My tennis family, they’re the best. It’s always fun to be around. I’m going to miss them.”
The emotions pouring out of all four, the embraces given by the coaches, parents, friends and family showed how special the 2017 campaign has been.
“All four have huge hearts. That’s why this is such a tough loss,” Ehrhardt said. “The have huge hearts. They put a lot of time in. It’s no different than any other sport. They want to be successful and they have been.”
Redman and Sickels won their first-round match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 over Megan Pressgrove and Bethany Baumgartner of Newton.
Winning the opening round match was a rare accomplishment for Clarke girls tennis. Only one other time had a doubles team won a match at state, when Kelli Ehrhardt and Kylar McCann picked up a win in 2012. McCann and Ehrhardt would go on to place sixth.
“That’s a huge milestone,” coach Ehrhardt said.
Redman and Sickels gave top seeded and defending champions Lauren McManus and Taylor Hogan of Waterloo Columbus everything the Sailors could handle and then some.
The Lady Indians duo was in both sets, but just could not find the key break needed to win either set. The Sailors pair won 6-4, 6-3.
The challenge from Redman and Sickels turned out to be McManus and Hogan’s stuiffest of the two-day tournament. McManus and Hogan defeated Shenandoah’s team of Marilyn Cepeda and Nichole Gilbert 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals, then routed Chelsea Poesch and Madi Overmann of Waverly-Shell Rock 6-1, 6-1 in the title match.
“That’s the best we’ve ever played,” Redman said. “We had a couple of missed opportunities we should’ve had. They’re a solid team.”
Columbus’ duo was on the ropes at times, but the Sailors tandem had an answer for every challenge brought at them by Redman and Sickels.
“Sydney and Sydnee had a shot. We played a great match there,” Ehrhardt said. “If we win that, we’re in the state semifinals (Friday).”
Redman and Sickels bid for a state medal ended in the second round of consolations with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Carolyn Conlon and Anna Freiburger of Dubuque Wahlert.
In a span of three hours, the team know as ‘the Syds’ matched up with players from the two of the state’s premier tennis programs.
Earlier in the day, the team of Linskens and Stubbe, both sophomores, fell in both of their matches and were eliminated from the tournament. Linskens and Stubbe fell 6-3, 6-2 to Spirit Lake-Okoboji’s Alison Bueltel and Ashley Thorn in round one, then dropped a 6-0, 6-1 match to Erin McGivern and Sydney Johnson of Davenport Assumption.
For Linskens and Stubbe, even with a pair of losses, there was much they could take away.
“It was a really great experience to be at state and get the feel for everything,” Linskens said.
Now they have an idea of what to work on this summer and next fall.
“Our goal is to make it back here. We know what to work on, just improving our serves and returning, getting our strokes improved.”
The season was overwhelmingly successful in Ehrhardt’s mind. The team won the South Central Conference title as a team. The team reached the regional final. Two teams made it to state in the same season — a first in Ehrhardt’s 24 seasons as head coach.
“If you would’ve told me at the start of the season we’d have two girls doubles teams to state I would have said I would take it in a heartbeat,” Ehrhardt said. “I knew we were going to be good, but didn’t think we’d be that good.”
Three of the four state qualifiers and six of the top eight overall will be back for Clarke next spring.
“Three of the top four coming back is exciting,” Ehrhardt said. “Sidney Sickels stepped up when (Redman) was hurt. She had a good run at number one.”
Redman’s value was considerable for the team.
“She’s going to be tough to replace,” Ehrhardt said.
The opportunity is there for younger players to fill the absence left by Redman’s graduation.
“It’s getting the younger girls underneath them to come out,” Ehrhardt said. “Some of them have to have patients, even though they don’t ply varsity as a freshman. If they wait their time, then they can seize the opportunity when they get it.”
Sickels will be back, but will have to find a new doubles partner in the regular season matches.
What Ehrhardt and O’Tool have meant to Redman showed in the emotions when asked about their impact.
“Coach Ehrhardt is a funny guy. He will tell you straight forward, then make a joke. He’s been great to me,” Redman said. “O’Tool, he’s my best friend. We talk about everything. He’s the person that cracks jokes, lightens the mood when everyone’s down. I’m going to miss him.”
Redman and Sickels said nary a word while play was going on, showing to all who watched their matches the camaraderie they have.
“We communicate without speaking. It’s great having a bond that’s that special,” Redman said. “That’s what got us this far, just being there for each other.”
The emotions poured out of Redman’s cheeks, her voice choked up talking about her doubles partner the past three seasons.
“She’s my best friend,” Redman said, who noted she plans to further her education at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny and study criminal justice, with her goal to be a criminal investigator.
“She’s my rock on and off the court,” Redman added of Sickels.
“I love her so much.”