Tennis takes priority
By Terez A. Paylor
The Kansas City Star
Nikki Heilman's first love is soccer, but in a recent match she proved she has a pretty big heart when it comes to tennis, too.
Heilman is a senior on the Saints' tennis team, but she is going to college on a soccer scholarship and plays for a club team. Sometimes the two intersect, as they did Wednesday in the Saints' 5-4 win over Barstow.
Heilman, who finished third in the state in doubles last year, trailed Anna Tung 0-5 in the No. 4 singles match. The two teams were tied, so the dual was in the balance. To top it off, Heilman had soccer practice at 6 p.m., and by the sixth game it was already around 5:40.
However, Heilman stuck around long enough to grind out an 8-7 (7-4) victory and lift the Saints to victory. The match lasted until 6:30, and Heilman was late for practice.
"I kept looking at my watch and I said if she throws in the towel, I'm going to scream," joked coach Amy Person. 'It was really something considering she's really a doubles player at heart. She's a fighter."
Nikki Heilman's first love is soccer, but in a recent match she proved she has a pretty big heart when it comes to tennis, too.
Heilman is a senior on the Saints' tennis team, but she is going to college on a socceer scholarship and plays for a club team. Sometimes the two intersect, as they did Wednesday in the Saints' 5-4 win over Barstow.
Heilman, who finished third in the state in doubles last year, trailed Anna Tung 0-5 in the No. 4 singles match. The two teams were tied, so the dual was in the balance. To top it off, Heilman had soccer practice at 6 p.m., and by the sixth game it was already around 5:40.
However, Heilman stuck around long enough to grind out an 8-7 (7-4) victory and lift the Saints to victory. The match lasted until 6:30, and Heilman was late for practice.
"I kept looking at my watch and I said if she throws in the towel, I'm going to scream," joked coach Amy Person. 'It was really something considering she's really a doubles player at heart. She's a fighter."