2 weeks Ago By Conrad Engstrom
BRAINERD — Brooke Mulholland called it playing it her game. Whatever her game is, it's been working. The Brainerd senior captain for the girls’ tennis team finished 4-0 last week to improve her record to 14-0 on the season.
“I’ve just been very patient and consistent when hitting the ball,” Mulholland said. “I’m not always trying to hit a winner. I’m moving in at the right time, but mostly just being patient and letting the other person make the mistake.
I’ve been playing my game and having confidence in myself.” ADVERTISEMENT Mulholland admitted it can be difficult to always play within herself. “It’s especially difficult when you’re playing someone else who is patient,” she said.
“Then you want to end the point sooner. You get frustrated and hit it out, so it is kind of hard to stay patient.” Warriors’ head coach Garrett Goeden called Mulholland steady.
“When you watch her play you can’t tell if she’s winning or losing,” Goeden said. “She’s focused and just plays her game and she’s great at that.” Mulholland primarily plays No.
2 singles, but against Detroit Lakes on Sept. 12 she got her first start at No. 1 singles and won 6-0, 6-4.
“It was great to see her play how she did at that position,” Goeden said. “She just went out there and just played her game like I said earlier. Regardless of the position that she’s in she is focused and she was ready for the opportunity.
As a coach, that makes you feel really good because you know that you can call on her if you want to mix something up with the lineup.” Mulholland began the week with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Fergus Falls’ Layla Zosel. The Warriors lost to the Otters 5-2 for their first loss of the season.
ADVERTISEMENT After a 7-0 victory over Detroit Lakes where Mulholland played No. 1 singles, Mulholland was back at No. 2 singles for Brainerd’s matches against St.
Cloud and Little Falls on Sept. 13. Mulholland won her match against St.
Cloud’s Sophie Erickson 6-3, 7-6(4) to help the Warriors nab a 5-2 win. Against the Flyers, Mulholland won 7-6(5), 6-2 against Olivia Litke in a 6-1 Brainerd victory. The undefeated record is something she would like to keep.
“It’s definitely in my mind each match,” Mulholland said. “I think it’s helped me win and stay confident in my matches, too. I’m hoping I go far into the season undefeated, but we’ll see.
” As a leader, it meant a lot to Mulholland to be named captain for her senior season. “I’ve been with this team for four years now, so I really wanted to show the younger girls what it means to be a leader and really help them with their skill and just life. I know they can come to me if they need anything.
” Goeden added, that Mulholland balances leading by example and using her voice. ADVERTISEMENT “One thing we asked all of our captains is to make sure that we’re using their voice and bringing chatter and energy,” Goeden said. “That’s a big thing of what we are about and she’s doing all the right things as a leader.
” Last season, Mulholland was the No. 4 singles player on the Warriors. She played No.
4 singles in Brainerd’s lineup at the Class 2A State Tournament, an experience that has helped her this year. “The state experience definitely helped a lot,” Mulholland said. “We had a lot of tough opponents and I think it helped my game grow and helped me play against tougher opponents.
” Goeden added: “When you see tennis at the highest level in the state it really gives you something to set your sights on. She’s bringing that experience to the courts. We’re hungry for more and she’s hungry for more.
She wants to get back there and she knows she belongs there and the team belongs there.” What’s impressed Goeden is Mulholland jumping from No. 4 singles to No.
2 and No. 1 singles and not having any struggles winning. “That is a really difficult jump to make for a lot of people,” he said.
“You just have to grind, honestly. You have to work super hard in the offseason and you have to play people that are going to make you better.” Goeden added Mulholland was one of the hardest working players in the summer to prepare for the season.
ADVERTISEMENT “She took the offseason very seriously,” Goeden said. “It was very clear that she was taking it seriously. So when she comes out on the court, she’s ready to go, she’s ready to play and she’s one of the more steady players out there.
It’s nice to see the growth. I’ve worked with a lot of these girls and with Brooke you can tell that she was dedicated in the weight room and on the court. Those are the things that you have to do if you want to excel in your sport.
” Mulholland added: “I lifted this summer four days a week in the morning with our strength program. Then I did summer tennis two days a week at the high school with Garrett. I also did a couple of tournaments this summer as well.
” Mulholland said the biggest difference between playing No. 4 singles and No. 2 singles is the speed of the game.
“At No. 4 singles the ball moves a lot slower,” Mulholland said. “They just lob a lot and it’s a slower paced game.
Last year, I played a lot of two hour matches because the points are longer at No. 4 singles. This year, everyone is hitting the ball a lot harder and matches don’t last as long.
You can put away the point more easily.” Goeden is in his first season coaching the girls’ tennis team. Mulholland said he’s really helped her in improving.
“It’s really nice to have a close relationship with your coach,” she said. “Because you can go to him for anything and he’ll always let you know how you are doing. It’s good for him to be firm and keep us on track, so we’re not messing around all the time.
” Goeden added: “Brooke is rock solid. She loves to joke around and have a good time. She’s a great kid and I think she’s really bought into what we’re trying to build and has bought into herself as an individual and as a player.
We try to be loose when we are playing and competing. When we are critical as a coaching staff we’re not trying to mean, but trying to make them better.” ADVERTISEMENT Mulholland plays lacrosse in the spring.
She plans to play college tennis next season at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. “I was visiting a few schools and when I visited the U of Mary and had lunch with the tennis coach, he basically guaranteed me a spot on the team,” Mulholland said.
“I really liked the school and I’m excited to play tennis in college and grow my game.” CONRAD ENGSTROM may be reached at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainerddispatch.
com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.
com/the_rad34. Sport: Girls Tennis Position: No. 2 singles Year: Senior Age: 17 Height: 5-foot-3 Career highlight: Going to state last year Other sports: Lacrosse Grade-point average: 3.
9 Favorite class: Spanish Favorite teacher: All of them Favorite food: Strawberries Favorite movie: Twisters Favorite musician: Zach Bryan Favorite athlete: Coco Gauff What sport do you wish you would have played: Basketball Who inspires you: My parents Future plans: Attend the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota to study elementary education and play tennis. Parents: Kathryn and Trevor Karley Dunham, volleyball, finished with 14 kills, 20 digs, two ace serves and a block against Sartell. She finished with six kills, two aces and 20 digs against Sauk Rapids.
Mya Tautges, girls’ swimming and diving, won two individual events and was part of a winning relay against St. Cloud Apollo. Aralyn Marcelo, girls’ swimming and diving, won two individual events and was part of two winning relays against Willmar.
Macy Castle, girls’ soccer, scored two goals against St. Cloud Apollo. Lilly DeRosier, girls’ soccer, finished with a goal and two assists against St.
Cloud Apollo. She finished with two goals and an assist against St. Cloud Tech.
Izaak Vanek, football, caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown against Sartell. Jessica Cole and Rebekah Soukup, girls’ tennis, were 4-0 last week against Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, St. Cloud Tech and Little Falls.
They are also 11-0 as a doubles team. Hunter Fanjoy, football, finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks against Sartell. Albert Karpeh, football, finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one sack.
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