Representing a small school of 400 students provides River Forest’s Kaleigh Karageorge with a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality.
She wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We don’t really get as much recognition as we deserve,” she said. “I feel like we’ve been working harder than any other team. Everybody works their butts off every day.”
That effort has paid off for Karageorge, who is the Ingots’ No. 1 singles player in addition to ranking No. 1 academically in the junior class. Her grade-point average is 4.5 on a 4.0 scale, thanks to weighted AP classes.
She also participates in honor society, student council and South Shore Leadership Youth for Community Engagement.
“It’s hard finding a balance between tennis, school and extracurriculars, but it’s all about my future,” Karageorge said. “The more I pack my schedule now, the easier I’m going to have it later on. In a school of 400, if you don’t step up and do something, you’re not sure anyone is going to.”
The Ingots reached the sectional championship last season, falling 4-1 to Andrean. The taste of postseason success left the team longing for bigger achievements this year.
Before the team bus pulled back into River Forest, Karageorge and her teammates locked in on their goal for 2016: winning a sectional title.
“As soon as it was over, they were heartbroken about the sectional championship, but then right away they were so pumped for this year,” River Forest coach Scott Guel said. “They were ready to come back and work. We started conditioning in January, because they were ready to get after it.”
Karageorge, whom Guel called “a born leader,” sets the example for a hardworking team mindset.
“She really wants to go somewhere in life,” Guel said. “She starts with school and tennis is always second, and that’s fine. She comes out to practice and works her butt off, then she goes home and studies for hours.”
Karageorge (3-2) is one reason why River Forest (5-1, 3-1) is off to a fast start in the Greater South Shore Conference.
Karageorge, who has been playing the sport for seven years, has accepted the challenge of facing the opposition’s top player.
“She’s never getting down on herself,” Guel said. “She can be down 40-love, and she always has the ability to say, ‘The next point is mine.’ That speaks volumes for her.”
Healthy and happy: After grinding through a season of injuries, Lake Central is reaping the benefits of good health.
The Indians (9-0) are thriving with the team back intact.
Claire Gronek (No. 2 singles), Jeannine Toth (No. 1 doubles) and Anna Wachowski (No. 1 doubles) all missed time with injuries a year ago.
“Conditioning is important,” Lake Central coach Bryan Szalonek said. “You try to condition with open hitting and get the kids to buy into taking care of their injuries and bodies a little bit more.”
Whiting still winning: Gone is coach Arthur Young, who left Whiting to start a tennis program at Hammond Academy.
But the Oilers’ recent history of small school success is still going strong.
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Former Griffith coach Mark Harnew is now in charge and has guided the Oilers to a 5-2 start.
“The girls were very welcoming to having a new coach,” Harnew said. “Getting to know the girls day by day, you start to see their personalities shine through.”
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
TOP 5
Last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Munster (1)
2. Lake Central (2)
3. Valparaiso (3)
4. Crown Point (5)
5. Portage (4)
Player of the Week: LaPorte freshman Alaina Majors defeated opponents from South Bend Clay (6-3, 6-3) and Elkhart Central (6-0, 6-1) to help the Slicers to a pair of 5-0 wins at Saturday’s LeRoy Invitational.