Friend Or Foe

At first glance, it's hard to tell friends Kirsten Kohagen and Abby Richmond apart with their blue eyes, blonde pony tails and talent on the tennis court. But a closer looks reveals two fierce competitors—actually high school tennis rivals. Kohagen is the top singles player for Cary Academy and Richmond holds the top slot at St. Mary's High School. "I always know its going to be a long match when I play her," said Richmond. "I have to be mentally tough. Every point is long and it takes a lot out of you." Kohagen has the better overall record against Richmond but whether it's a high school final or a USTA tournament, it always seems to come down to a battle between these two girls. Richmond and Kohagen, both high school seniors, have known each other for about seven years. But they became true rivals when Richmond moved from Edenton to attend boarding school at St. Mary's and be closer to her year-round tennis coach. "St. Mary's and Cary Academy are rival schools," said Richmond. "Our team always wants to beat them. Sometimes I have to remind my teammates, the Cary Academy girls like Kirsten are really nice." Richmond and Kohagen became friends when they paired up as doubles partners in March 2008 after competing in a singles final against each other. The two took doubles lessons and learned how to compliment each other, rather than defeat each other. "We had to learn who played net better and who had the better first-serve," said Richmond. "We ended up being a really good team." "We never talk to each other during a singles match," said Kohagen. "So we had to learn how to communicate with each other and move together on the court. It was neat because we both helped motivate each other out there too." The doubles team competed in the 2008 North Carolina State Tar Heel Qualifier tournament and made it to the final. They hit the court again in the North Carolina Junior State Closed Tournament in July and won. There is fine line between being rivals and being friends, but Richmond and Kohagen seem to have merged the two with little problem. "I don't like to play my friends but it's inevitable," said Kohagen. "You just have to separate singles from doubles. It hasn't been too hard." The two rivals and friends will likely become doubles partners again after the high school season. They are sure their friendship will continue even if their rivalry doesn't due to the college choices they make. Richmond recently committed to play at East Carolina University; Kohagen is still applying to schools and going through the recruiting process.