September Athlete of the Month: Samantha Gehrke
Photos submitted by Gehrke.
Congrats to our Female Athlete of the Month, Samantha Gehrke! Gehrke is a junior and plays two singles or one doubles for the tennis team. She is off to a great start this season, winning 11 matches, with key wins coming against Brookfield Central, Elkhorn, and twice against DSHA. Having played tough teams early and getting wins against teams they never beat before, Gehrke highlights the team, sharing, “It's been a lot of fun getting to know all the girls on the team. We have become very close and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.”
Team captain and teammate Kensie Martin states that Gehrke always “brings 100% effort and consistency to every match, but what stands out most is the kind of person she is. She is always positive, encouraging, and there to lift up the people around her. Playing alongside her in singles, I’ve experienced that support firsthand, and I’m so grateful to call her a close friend. She is someone people can look up to both on and off the court.”
Head Coach Andy Fagan describes Gehrke as “an outstanding athlete who brings excellence, competitiveness, and character to everything she does. Making the varsity team her freshman year, she is a disciplined tennis player who competes with confidence, resilience, and a strong work ethic. She’s a tremendous teammate that can play singles and doubles whenever asked. Her ability to handle challenges with a positive attitude is her greatest strength that makes her not only a great tennis player, but an exceptional student-athlete and teammate.”
To learn more about our amazing athlete, read our interview with her below!
How long have you been playing tennis for and why do you play?
I have been playing tennis for four years, and I play tennis because I have always loved watching tennis, mainly because you are involved in every point. Once I realized how fun it is, I started taking it more seriously and started building and learning new skills. In tennis, there are so many techniques you can fine tune to develop yourself into a more competitive player. I enjoy the company, teammates, and friends you make throughout the sport. I love the individual and team aspects of the sport, as you can contribute to the team, but if you don’t do as well, then the team has your back.
Who is your athlete role model and why?
Over the years, several of the older girls on the tennis team have been amazing role models, including my older sister who also played on the Hamilton High School tennis team. I have learned a lot from the older girls on the team including new skills and ways to improve as well as being a good teammate.
What is your main goal this season?
My main goal this season is to grow as a tennis player, learn new things, and get even closer with the team. As a team we are looking forward to conference and sectionals because I feel we are very competitive this year. Playing match after match, I want to be able to learn new skills and strategies, and in practices I want to improve my fundamentals.
What are your future plans involving tennis?
My future plans involving tennis are to continue to work hard and improve in the offseason, and I want to continue to play for the rest of my high school years, each year being more competitive than the year before. Every year as we return, we all come back stronger, and I want to continue to build on the skills I already have to help the team through my high school tennis career.
Do you participate in any other spots or activities?
Besides my high school tennis season, I participate in many clubs and activities throughout Hamilton, and do tennis outside of school during the off season to improve my skills.
Besides tennis, what are your other hobbies?
Besides tennis, my other hobbies are downhill skiing in the winter and water skiing in the summer. In the winter my family and I go many places up north to have fun and go downhill skiing. In the summer I enjoy spending time up north at our cabin on the lake water skiing and tubing.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
Some pre-game rituals I have are getting a good warm up in with one of my teammates, making sure everything is warmed up before I head out on court. We also love to do each other's hair and put glitter in our hair before all of our matches. Some superstitions I have are that I always put my hair in bubble braids when I play, and it is always 9 bubbles—no more, no less. Another superstition is I never sit down during change overs cause I think it would mess me up and get me out of the zone, so I stay standing the whole match.
Do you have any teammates, coaches, parents, or other people in your life that have helped as an athlete?
Some people in my life that have helped me as an athlete are my parents, as they have always pushed me to do my best and help me achieve my goals. My coaches, Coach Fagan and Coach Leinon, are always a great help on court as they help me find new strategies to try on court when things aren’t going as well. My coaches from the Wisconsin Athletic Club, where I train, are always there to help me improve my game and push me to be better. Through tennis I have met a lot of amazing friends and playing with them is amazing as they help you hit more and learn more. My teammates from the high school season are some of the best people, as they always have your back, are great cheerleaders, and always make you feel like you aren't on the court alone.
