Harmony junior helped the team earn a place at regional tourney

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
Addison Hickey approaches tennis with a “go-for-it” attitude.
Finesse, she said, is not part of her game.
“I hit a flat serve. I don’t know how to slice,” she said. “If it twists, I don’t know what I did. One thing I’d like to learn for next year his how to vary my shots. Everything I hit from the baseline is pretty hard and flat.”
On the other hand, why change anything?
Hickey, the Osceola News-Gazette Female Tennis Player of the Year, was unbeaten in Osceola County (14-0) at No. 2 singles and she reached the No. 1 doubles finals at the district tournament with teammate Lauren Grego.
The Lady Longhorns enjoyed perhaps their best season, rarely challenged within the county and winning most of their matches against opponents outside the area. The team placed second at the 3A-8 district tournament and earned a first-ever berth to the regionals.
“We had a real good season. The thing about our team is that we all help each other,” she said. “I’m so thankful that Coach (Jerry) Piester took over our program. He’s helped us so much.”
Piester said he was fortunate to have a very good group of tennis players wearing Longhorns uniforms last season.
“We have a good group of players who all know how to play, and just as important, they are very smart about how they play,” Piester said. “Addison has lot of ability. She could have played No. 1 for most teams around here, including us. With her and Lauren at the top of the lineup, we feel very confident when we go into a match.”
Hickey said she has played tennis for a few years, but she doesn’t do the summer tournament schedule.
“I play because I like tennis,” she said. “I’ve taken lessons, but now I usually just go out with a bucket of balls and start hitting.”
The senior-to-be stays busy throughout the high school year by running for the cross country team.
“That’s hard. The meets aren’t too bad, but the practices really get to you,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder how I make it.”
She also has played volleyball and she was a member of the Lady Longhorns weightlifting team during her high school career.
“I like to stay busy,” she said.
It may be more bad news for Harmony’s opponents next season. The entire Harmony starting lineup returns.
“We’re expecting to have a very successful season again,” she said.