Hanson leads Forest Lake to win

Tennis teams in the Golden Empire League sure have not loved facing Forest Lake Christian’s Caitlin Hanson over the last three seasons.

FLC hosted Capitol Christian on Thursday and Hanson’s two-love victory helped lift the Falcons over the Cougars 7-2. Hanson, who is playing out her senior season, has not dropped a league match since her freshman year.

“It’s crazy to think I have not lost in three years,” Hanson said. “It’s not something I think about.”

She’s not flashy or a power player, but FLC coach Steve Robinson, who has coached her all four years at the varsity level, describes her as a multi-faceted player.

“She uses the entire court,” said Robinson, who has been leading the program since it began in 2002. “She uses various angles in her application of her forehand and backhand slice.”

Hanson did give up a game early in the first set, but took lead 2-1 and on her way to a win in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m a strategy player, but I will occasionally hit the ball hard,” said Hanson, who started playing tennis in the fourth grade with Frank Gaillard at Lake of the Pines. “I don’t like running, I get them running so I don’t have to.”

The Falcons were playing from behind when Menary dropped the first game, but kept the pressure on the Cougars’ No. 2 singles player good for a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

“I have not picked up a racket in a while. I have been in Kentucky,” said Menary who was visiting the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University in Lexington.

FLC’s Nathan Burnett, the boys No. 1 singles player, dropped the first set 7-5 and won the second set 7-6, winning the tiebreaker 7-5. That sent the match into a third and final set, which was won by Burnett 7-5.

“It was a huge first match for him today,” Robinson said.

The big surprise of the day was the win by sophomore Brandon Bryditzki at No. 2 singles, who moved from doubles to singles due to a challenge, as well as a teammate being sick. Bryditzki won the first set 6-1, lost the second 7-5 and won the third and final 6-2.

“It’s his first big win in singles,” Robinson said. “Very good win.”

The girls No. 1 doubles went to FLC’s Ally Weir and Amanda Timmerman 10-0, and the No. 2 girls doubles team of Courtney Turner and Holly McClain followed with a 10-2 win.

The final win for the Falcons was in mixed doubles, the outcome of the match went to a 7-5 tie breaker won 10-9 by FLC’s Ben Gamel and Anthony Dechene.

The win moves Forest Lake that much closer to the postseason.

Robinson feels that if Hanson is going to make a run deep into the playoffs, she needs to play postseason tennis and has to progress and keep her composure.

“To have that in a game this challenging is difficult,” Robinson said. “She lives her faith and I feel that is a big part of her ease and confidence.”

Hanson is the team’s co-captain with fellow senior Menary.

“To me it (being a captain) means to be encouraging, no matter what level you play,” said Menary, who is 7-1 on the season. Her only loss came at the racket of Marysville’s No. 2 singles player. “We try to be the kind of leaders we would want to be led by.”

The two girls have been teammates for four years of varsity tennis, as well as volleyball.

“Caitlin is not only a spectacular athlete, she has the most respectable character,” Menary said. “There are not even words. We are so lucky to have each other.”

The two met in the eighth grade, but played on different volleyball teams and really connected there freshman year.

With Hanson and Menary finishing up there high school career, they will have one last chance to make a run into the playoffs. Menary feels her team will need to be determined, committed and disciplined. But first they need to pick up a win over Lindhurst on Tuesday. Lindhurst has three losses this season, while the Falcons only have fallen to Marysville twice.

Last season, Hanson took a first-round loss in the GEL tournament, which could not have made her happier. The loss gave her the opportunity to be teamed up with Menary.

“They won handily and were the No. 1 (doubles) seed,” Robinson said. “They were a unit, an incredible balance of poise and confidence. It is a rare thing to have at this level.”

Hanson, who will be attending Pacific Union College in Napa in the fall, said she is not sure if she will be playing volleyball or tennis, because she says school comes first. She will look back on her high school career with fondness and hopes younger players have learned from her example.

“You never know who is watching you,” Hanson said. “Be the friendly face. You never know whose day you are going to affect.”

Article Courtesy of The Union / sports writer Scott P. Hopper