Cotter takes silver at state tennis meet

By Donnie A. Lucas

Sarah Cotter had a longtime dream become reality last week.

The Albany junior became the first Albany girl tennis player to advance to the state meet, taking the gold medal at the Region II-2A tennis meet held earlier this month at North Richland Hills.

Last week, Cotter played at the Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio, winning the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on Thursday to advance to Friday’s championship match, where she lost to Makenna Palacio of Mason 6-1, 6-0.

But she came home with the silver medal and a dream fulfilled – at least partially.

“I watched the state tournament in College Station my freshman year after I missed advancing from regionals by one match,” Cotter said. “It really motivated me to try harder to get to state, something I got to experience this year.”

The dream was put on hold last spring when schools across state were shuttered due to the ­COVID-19 pandemic.

Cotter won the state quarterfinal round last Thursday with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Esmerelda Perez from Chilton. Later in the day she defeated Blake Jenkins from Christoval 6-3, 6-3 to qualify for the championship match on Friday.

“I was really nervous before the first match because I wasn’t sure about the level of competition,” Cotter said. “But I gained confidence after the first two games.”

The semifinal round was harder than the first match.

“I had watched that girl play next to me in the first round, and it was a close match, and I knew she had to be a lot more tired than I was,” she said. “I knew I had more left in me than she did, so I was able to tire her out.”

Cotter said that she wasn’t nervous at all before the final match on Friday.

“I had nothing to lose at that point,” she said. “I knew the girl was a senior from Mason, and they play fall tennis, so she had more experience. I’m happy with the result even though I didn’t win. She was the better player that day and deserved the win.”

Cotter said she is now very motivated for her senior tennis season next year.

“I’m going for the gold next year, and I see how much more practice it will take to be a state champion,” she said. “I can’t just wait until our tennis season starts. I’m going to have work at it year-round.”

Cotter thanked her coaches and the community for the support shown to her throughout the season.

Coach Sara Wilson, who is retiring this year, is also very happy with the result of the state meet.

“Sarah made Albany history by not only being the first girl player to go to state, but she brought home the silver medal too,” Wilson said. “She is truly a talented player.”