Athlete Of The Week: DGS Tennis Player Vickie Andonova

Rain washed away 's last practice Thursday before beginning competition in the Downers Grove North Sectional on Friday, and the Mustangs' team leader was just fine with that.

Sixteen-year-old junior Vickie Andonova of Westmont, and the Mustangs, are coming off an inspiring conference championship victory and are ready for the next step, figuring their competition was in the same boat Thursday.

"Vickie (25-11 record this year) is our backbone and heart as she has become the leader of this young Mustangs team (16-6-1) with no seniors," Mustangs coach Peter Freischlag said. "She instrumented the (West Suburban Gold's) most improbable comeback, overcoming three points as we stole the conference championship from Hinsdale South."

The Mustangs overcame the largest deficit in conference history to win the league title. Down three full points early in the season after a loss to defending champion Hinsdale South, the Mustangs fought through the conference without losing another match and closed to within one point of the Hornets.

Then, without any seniors on the team, the Mustangs rallied to overtake the field, beating the Hornets to win the conference tournament and subsequently the title.

Conference medalists included Andonova at first singles, sophomore Grace Prete at second singles, junior captain Amy Even and freshman Tiffany Bui at No. 1 doubles, and junior captain Dhara Puvar and Junior Supal Mehta at No. 2 doubles.

Conference champions included junior Shivani Rathi and junior Ashley Maghirang at No. 3 doubles, junior Bridget O'Toole and Junior Macy Murray at No. 4 doubles, and sophomore Amber Warland, whose 3-hour, 30-minute final at No. 3 singles sealed the win for the Mustangs.

Tell me about last week's big conference win. What was your reaction and the team's? I think we were all actually like really surprised in a way. But watching that final match and seeing our teammates win it for us was the greatest thing ever. A lot of the girls, we were talking about how we were the ones acting like champions instead of the other team. Our attitude toward winning -- we were so happy that we won; we actually tied -- and the other team they weren't so happy with that so they were acting like really down in the dumps about that.

What's the hope now, heading into sectionals, both individually and team-wise? I still haven't talked to my coach about the seeding, so I'm hoping I get a good seed for sectionals and that we get our doubles teams to state and just me too and our other singles player. As of right now we just want to go out there and have fun. Our goal is to qualify for state, but if we don't we still have next year because we're a really young team. We don't have any seniors at all.

Are you the first to play tennis in your family? Yeah, my dad when he was younger played table tennis just for fun and he was the one that kind of got me into it, both my parents. They wanted me to start doing something so when I was 6 they signed me up and they're the ones that kind of pushed me through it.

Why did your parents pick tennis for you? My dad, he really liked soccer, but when I asked him why he didn't sign me up for soccer, I ask him now and he's like, 'It's just not a woman's sport.' (laughter). He doesn't believe women should play soccer and he thinks that tennis works you more mentally and physically. It makes you think. It exercises the mind and the body, too, at the same time.

Looking back, are you glad your parents chose tennis for you and that you've liked it? Oh I'm so grateful. There were even those times when I just wanted to stop, but they made me keep going.