Focused On her Game

Todd Arterburn had held Lauren Kline when she was a baby, but he hadn't seen her for years. That's why after Arterburn was named tennis coach at North Oldham High School he wanted to re-introduce himself to her. So one afternoon he tracked down the then-seventh grader. "I said, 'I'm going to be your coach,'" Arterburn recalls telling Kline. "And she looked at me like, 'All right, so?' She was just like, 'No big deal.' I'm always going to remember that." That's because Kline's response wasn't a brush-off, it simply showed the older-than-her-years disposition that has made her unflappable on the court - and nearly unbeatable, too. Kline, who has been a fixture on the state tennis scene for years, is now a junior at North Oldham and the odds-on favorite to win her first state singles title. "She's always been way ahead of her time as far as her age group, playing against older girls, and I think that's toughened her up," Arterburn says. Kline played in her first state tournament as a fifth grader for South Oldham, then returned two years later with North Oldham to begin a string of three straight quarterfinal appearances. Last season, Kline broke through to the finals, where she lost to Lexington Christian's Emily Carbone 6-4, 6-2. "When I was younger I had to practice with older girls, so I was used to hitting with them and hitting with people who hit harder than me," Kline said. "It's definitely made me a better player." And since Carbone transferred schools in the offseason, Kline is the player to beat this year at state. "As a junior, I think she could probably play major Division 1 tennis as we speak, she's that good," says Arterburn, a former player at the University of Louisville. "She hasn't lost a game, not a set, a game, in the region the last three years, she's won all her matches (6-)0 and (6-)0." Of course Kline's success should come as no surprise to anyone who knows her family background. Her parents, Larry and Sue, literally met on the tennis court when both played at the University of Kentucky. Larry is now the director and part owner of the Louisville Tennis Club and the tennis director at Blairwood Tennis Swim & Fitness and Sue is an instructor. Arterburn, who has known Larry Kline since he was 10 years old, believes that pedigree has served Lauren Kline well. "She's very quiet, (but) she doesn't take anything off anybody," Arterburn says. "Lauren is really, really feisty on the court. She's a really smart player. She doesn't like to lose points no matter who it's to. She doesn't like to lose anything. She'll go out there, she'll fight. When she does lose a couple points, it doesn't carry over. She's really good mentally as well as physically." Off the court Kline is easy-smiling and easy-going, but she admits that losing last year's state final was hard. That's why she'll enter this month's state tournament with some unfinished business. "The final was really something, but hopefully I'll win this year," she said, "that will be better." TEAMS & INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH AT STATE The 2008 KHSAA State Tennis Tournaments are May 22-24 in Lexington and several Louisville-area teams and individuals should contend for state titles. Here is a closer look at some of the contenders. BOYS Christian Academy - The Centurions, who tied for sixth last season, could contend for the title this year thanks in large part to their doubles teams. Colby Buchanan and Brett Johnson were semifinalists last season while Logan Rose and Michael Perry also return. duPont Manual - The Crimsons, who tied Trinity and South Oldham for second last season, should be strong again with singles star Ben Newstadt and the doubles duo of Jeremy Blum and Dylan Gerlach. St. Xavier - The Tigers have won 10 of the last 12 state titles (and 17 overall) and will contend once again led by sophomore singles player Alex Crum and the doubles team of Kyle Coronel and Geoff Riggs. Trinity - The five-time champion Shamrocks, the only school besides St. X with more than one state title, should be led by Nick Reyes and Erik Daus. GIRLS Assumption - The Rockets are fueled by freshman singles player Maddie Phillips, who advanced to the Round of 16 last year playing for Kentucky Country Day. Christian Academy - The Centurions, sixth last season, return one half (Emily Mallory) of a state champion doubles team. Collegiate - Amazons senior Surriya Ahmad could contend for the singles title. She advanced to the Round of 16 last year. Sacred Heart - The Valkyries, who won their sixth state title last season by beating Lexington Christian in a team playoff, should contend again led by Spencer Rhodes and Hannah English.