The motto for the Eastern women’s tennis team was emblazoned on the back of T-shirts that all the players wore before its final match of the season last week. It was a motto that perfectly describes senior Jill Wirtz.

‘So Tough.’

Being the only senior on either the men’s or women’s tennis teams, having everyone looking to her to be a leader, should have been more than enough pressure for Wirtz.

But combine that with having a first-year head coach, and the pressure should have been unbearable.

Luckily for that first-year head coach, John Blackburn, Wirtz was able to step in and be the strong presence that he desperately needed.

“When I first came here I didn’t have a single expectation for anyone,” said Blackburn. “But I saw right away that Jill had great leadership potential in addition to her outstanding athletic ability.”

Prior to the start of the fall season, Blackburn named Wirtz captain and she embodied that position the entire year.

“John looked to me to be a leader and set a good example,” Wirtz said. “I always tried to give my best effort in practice and keep a positive attitude to try and set a good example.”

Setting a good example was not the only thing Wirtz did to help the Panthers.

Half of this year’s women’s team were not part of the team during the 2004-05 season. With the new additions, Blackburn looked to his new captain to assist him in bringing the incoming and returning players together as one.

“Jill did a great job of getting the team to gel and mixing the old players with the new,” Blackburn said.

Wirtz was not only a great leader for the Panthers away from the court; she was successful on the court as well.

Playing in individual tournaments during the fall season, Wirtz finished third in C-flight singles play at the Evansville Fall Classic.

Even more impressive, Blackburn said, was her first place finish in B-flight doubles with her partner, freshman Natalie Martin.

Martin’s season was cut short due to an elbow injury, but Wirtz rolled with the challenge, continuing her successful play in the spring season with her previous doubles partner, junior Madina Mambetova. Wirtz and Mambetova went 9-7 together at No. 1 doubles.

“Madina and I help each other out on the court,” Wirtz said. “She sets me up so well at the net that it makes my job easier to finish the point.”

Mambetova appreciates the style Wirtz has on the court.

“She is very funny and sarcastic, always joking around,” Mambetova explained. “She can get very competitive and she always tries to pump up everyone around her. We have a lot of chemistry together.”

The experience Wirtz had gained through three years of college tennis proved to be a valuable asset for Blackburn at No. 1 doubles.

“Jill’s experience and court knowledge allowed me to move our best player [sophomore Sandra Sasidharan] down to No. 2 doubles,” Blackburn explained. “That is a luxury that not a lot of teams have.”

The fall season is where individual competition is stressed but the spring season is all about team play and trying to make it to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in Nashville.

While the women did not reach that goal this season finishing 2-8 in the OVC, good for ninth place, Wirtz performed consistently at her No. 4 singles position in addition to her No. 1 doubles spot.

Wirtz went 9-11 in singles in her final spring season, including a four match-winning streak early in the season.

“We are going to miss her tremendously,” Blackburn said. “Without her this could have been a really, really difficult year for me and the team.”

With the tennis season now over, Wirtz is looking forward to next fall and starting her student teaching requirement as part of her elementary education major.

Wirtz also plans to help with her high school team, Mother McAuley in Chicago, while she student teaches.

What Wirtz has learned and displayed on the court should help her in the classroom as well.

“I’ve learned a lot this year about never giving up and always keeping a positive attitude,” Wirtz said.

As Wirtz moves on in life, her teammates, and in particular her doubles partner, are going to miss her.

“We have spent so many years together and as long as I have been here Jill has been right there too,” Mambetova said. “I am going to have to get used to her not being there during practice, when we travel..everywhere. It is going to be weird. She is such an amazing girl, leader and teammate. Everyone is going to miss her.”

Senior Jill Wirtz waits for a serve with her doubles partner, junior Madina Mamabetova, during an April 11 match against Chicago State at Darling Courts.Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News

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