By Ken Hansard

            The Carthage High girls’ tennis team is coached by, Coach Madelynn Capps-Whitley and Coach Makenzie Schultz, two ladies who have chosen to return to their alma mater and give back to their community.  Some of the things that they stress are living in the moment, staying consistent, and being a servant to others.  Senior Kailie Layman, a top performer for the Tigers, seems to have taken their teachings to heart.  When asked about her goals for the season, Layman said, “Mainly, I want to get to know the new coach, spend time with my teammates, and get lots of playing time in.” 

Getting to know the new coach also means adapting to a new outlook, and Layman appears to have done this, as well, “I’ve always tended to put unnecessary pressure on myself – which only causes a bad mindset.  I hope to get away from that this year.  In the offseason, I worked a lot on my consistency.  I relearned most of my strokes (new grips and swings) and focused on repetitive drilling.  Now that I have done that, my goal really is just to play hard and play well.  We’ll just wait to see how far that will take me.” 

As a senior, Layman readily accepts the mantle of responsibility that is expected from veteran players, “Being a member of our varsity team as well as a four-year player, I strive to be a role model for the younger girls in sportsmanship and in game play. I know we will have lots of fun and make the best of our time together.” 

Kailie’s coaches should consider themselves fortunate, because Layman’s career should give her a lot of credibility with her younger teammates.  “I’ve been pretty devoted to tennis for the entirety of my high school career. I was named top freshmen, I’ve lettered at the varsity level each of my three years, and I’ve been named our team’s MVP and #1 for two years.” 

Finally, Kailie described where her passion for the game emerged and evolved, “What led me initially to sports was a need to release some energy. Over the years, many amazing, caring coaches and fun, supportive teammates encouraged me to continue to pursue sports – tennis in particular.  I’m glad I did.  We have a solid group of girls, and I’m confident we all will continue to grow as players and as a team.” 

Kailie is the epitome of the student athlete, boasting strong numbers in the classroom, as well, with an impressive G.P.A of 4.01.  After graduation, Kailie hopes to attend college to pursue a degree in nursing, with plans to later become a nurse practitioner.   She also added, “Healthcare is where I’ve found my purpose and is one of my greatest passions.  Another great interest of mine is agriculture – particularly ranching and the rodeo scene.  My goal is to pursue these fields and one day have my own stake in the community!”