Aug 31, 2016 3 min read

Name: Kate Crider

School: Canon-McMillan

Class: Senior

Sport: Tennis

Crider’s week: Crider went 2-1 last week in singles play to help the Big Macs get off to a 4-1 record as a team. Crider, a senior, is 3-2 in singles play this season as Canon-McMillan’s No. 1 singles player. Her loss last week was to Upper St. Clair freshman Marlo Schiffman, a nationally-ranked player on the junior circuit.

Strong forehand: Crider has always had “wicked” forehand shot.

She’d hit it with as much power as she could when practicing against teammates at Canon-McMillan or doing clinics and private lessons at Upper St. Clair.

“But when it came to competition, I ended up choking,” Crider said.

That happened often her first year on varsity, as a freshman, when she played second singles.

“It was so much pressure,” she said. “It was my first experience of intense competition rather than just playing for the fun of it.”

Though it took some time, Crider now appears comfortable on the court come gametime.

“At this point, I’m just here to play hard and to have fun with it,” said Crider, who has received interest from Slippery Rock. “I think that mentality is what truly helps me to be my best athlete.”

Slice of life: Her transformation as a player started to become evident last season, her first in the top singles slot, as she began establishing a rhythm on the court. Her season ended with a second-round defeat in the section tournament and a fractured big toe.

Besides strengthening her mental game, Crider has expanded on the technical side as well. Growing confidence with a backhand slice shot that she began learning as a sophomore has given the right-hander an additional way to attack. Crider said the ball’s underspin carries shots to the left on the bounce instead of the expected right side, handcuffing opponents.

“That has saved me so many times,” she said.

Plenty to prove: Looking ahead to the rest of the fall, Crider wants to improve her conditioning, which she said is less-than-ideal at present because she didn’t play any best-of-three matches during preseason. Her three-set victory, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, over Jessica Fanning of Bethel Park to start the regular season lasted two hours. It was the first time in four years of playing eachother that Crider won. They are always close matches.

“That was fun,” Crider said. “And long.”

Compiled by Jasper Wilson