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Monday, September 1, 2008
Kites Keep Aledo Tennis Flying High
Fort Worth, TX
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The brother-sister duo of Sam and Maxcey Kite lead the Bearcats tennis program by example.
It’s rare to find high school athletes who aren’t at least a little on edge when in the heat of battle and things aren’t going their way.
Then there are players like Sam and Maxcey Kite, siblings and star athletes on the Aledo tennis team. Keeping cool under pressure and staying positive on the court are traits that have enabled the duo to enjoy a good bit of success for the Bearcats.
“Some kids let the pressure get to them and they get unraveled when they have a loss,” said Barbara Russell, who along with Carl Richter coaches the Kites and the rest of the Aledo tennis team. “Win or lose, they compliment their opponents and have a good attitude.
“They focus on the positive and don’t let any mistakes get them down,” she said. “They see the fun of the game. They really enjoy the battle.”
Varsity starters since they were freshmen, both Kites have also proven to be battle-tested. Maxcey, a senior leader for the girls, and Sam, a veteran junior for the boys, return after a 2007-2008 season that saw the two aid their team in every capacity in which they served.
Last fall, Maxcey and Sam joined forces to form a mixed doubles team that was unstoppable in district competition. The duo went undefeated through 8-4A matches, posting a 9-3 record overall. They also remained perfect in district as singles players, as Maxcey went 10-2 overall and Sam compiled a 9-3 record.
In spring tennis competition, the Kites paired with other partners to play in boys and girls doubles matches. Maxcey and teammate Lisa Robertson went 15-3 and advanced to the 4A Region I quarterfinals, while Sam paired with Logan Trussell to post a 12-5 record and also make an appearance at regionals.
Maxcey, who along with Sam participates in USTA tennis events in addition to high school tennis, said keeping a good mindset during matches is an import part of any player’s game.
“You have to stay focused and don’t get stressed, don’t crack under pressure,” she said. “I play my best when I’m not feeling the pressure. There are a lot of good players that aren’t playing as well because they’re letting the pressure get to them.
“You can’t think too far ahead, too many points ahead.”
While both siblings maintain a positive attitude in competition, Sam is somewhat of a stoic player while on the court, Maxcey said. Sam describes his approach as tuning out his surroundings to avoid distractions.
“When you’re on the court, you have to kind of stay inside a bubble and don’t really talk to anyone, not even your opponent very much,” he said. “Just focus on your technique and what you need to do.”
That might be the case when the two are playing singles matches, but the siblings understand the importance of communication when competing in doubles contests. Both talk with their partners to make sure they’re on the same page and ready for any situation that comes their way.
However, competing as mixed doubles partners made communication a little bit easier in some regards. There was no holding back if one Kite felt that the other needed to make a change in their performance.
“We would give advice to each other a lot freer, but that wasn’t always a good thing,” Maxcey said. “Sometimes it was good, but sometimes it got kind of rough.”
Russell said it’s unlikely the Kites will play on a mixed doubles team this fall. Although they formed a winning combination, this year’s lineup of district opponents in 6-4A is even more challenging, so spreading their talents out will be necessary, she said.
Russell said the siblings are leaders and key components for the Bearcats once again this season. Their dedication to the game and the aggressive approach they take makes them hard to beat, she said.
“They’re constantly on the court … always working to make themselves better,” Russell said. “They’re strength is that they both like the net. If you’re going to be a good tennis player, you have to play up to the net. Their serves are strong, also.
“Both of them don’t really have a weakness to their game,” she said. “You can’t say that about every tennis player, but you can say that about them.” •
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