HUDSONVILLE – Maggie Rothstein stands nearly a foot shorter than some opponents, but she has proved that her tennis game can tower over them.
The West Ottawa senior is a compact player who uses her size and her quickness to her advantage. Rothstein spent three years climbing the doubles lineup.
On a roster loaded with talent of all ages, Rothstein tried out for singles as a senior and claimed the No. 4 spot.
The winner of the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award proved to be dominant in the singles lineup, winning the No. 4 singles conference championship on Saturday, May 9, at Hudsonville High School, leading the Panthers to their ninth consecutive OK Red Conference title.
“We want to keep the winning streak up and keep putting those banners on the wall. It means the world to me. I have worked for seven years to get to play a singles spot and just getting that conference title as a singles player proves everything I have worked for,” Rothstein said. “Fighting for the point and the mental aspect of the game is what I have improved as a singles player. You have someone to rely on in doubles.”
Rothstein, one of just three seniors on a talented, young roster, didn’t drop a set.
“I think I am quicker for being shorter, but I have worked a lot with agility and being able to reach balls. I think speed overcomes the height disadvantage,” Rothstein said. “Getting to the next is important. It is that doubles mentality to come up to the net, and I have that advantage to find the open space.”
It is something that West Ottawa coach Pete Schwallier was hoping she would bring to the singles lineup.
“She was so good every single year in doubles. I had every belief that she would be good at singles, but after her doubles play was soo good, you just want to see it (at singles),” Schwallier said. “She has been seamlessly able to transition to singles right from the beginning of the year. She uses her doubles skills well. She is comfortable at the net, but also comfortable when her opponent is at the net. She is very good at hitting over people when she draws them in as well. She is a very complete player.”
West Ottawa scored 51 points, followed by Rockford (44), Hudsonville (34), Grandville (29), Grand Haven (22) and East Kentwood (9).
The West Ottawa freshman played extremely well as Izzy Gitler and Sydney Shafer won conference titles at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
The Panthers won four of the five doubles flights.
Hope Hughes and Haylee Geerlings won at No. 2 doubles, Audrey Anderson and Olivia Smith won at No. 3, Mallory Paff and Hope Sikorski won at No. 4 and Paislee Hartman and Eden Slager won at No. 5.
At No. 1 singles, West Ottawa’s Evie Price finished conference runner-up, while the No. 1 doubles team of Kallyn Gaul and Lovelle Kim finished in third place.
The Panthers will host the Division 1 regional on Thursday, May 14. West Ottawa has won eight consecutive regional championships and will look to keep that streak going.
“What a legacy the seniors are leaving. They are part of a lot of this streak. You want to leave with a house in better order than when you came in. The program is in stronger shape even than when they were freshman,” Schwallier said. “They have helped the younger generation step up even more.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Ottawa tennis player Maggie Rothstein wins conference title