Last dance about to begin for McCormick
Senior Eve McCormick looks forward to one more year of sports with the Tippecanoe Red Devils, as she heads into her final season with both the girls tennis team and girls basketball team. McCormick, who was all-conference in tennis last fall, was also a key player for the basketball team giving them a solid post presence and a player with good experience returning this winter. Being her senior season, McCormick has plenty of goals heading into the new year.
“My expectations are to continue to improve from last year and really be in the moment and cherish this last season,” she said. “This is a great group of talented girls led by a supportive coach and I really want to play some good, competitive tennis and enjoy being surrounded by this team.” The tennis success that Tipp has endured the past several seasons is something the players in the program want to continue, and McCormick knows the girls who take the court this fall have a lot to aim for.
“I think we have a deep roster that should allow us to be very competitive and make a run for the MVL championship,” McCormick said. “I know it's something we'd all like to bring back to Tipp. We were a pretty young team and I've seen most of the girls on the courts this summer hitting, taking lessons, playing local tournaments so I think Butler and other teams might be in for a surprise.” One thing that McCormick takes very serious is the leadership role she will be taking as a senior. Coming off a recent injury, she wants to contribute however she can.
“Being a senior, first and foremost I want to be a good leader and role model for my teammates,” she said. “Like many sports, tennis is a game of not just skill but mental toughness. Sometimes the outcome of a match is more about errors than winners.”
“I hope to lead with positivity, a smile, words of encouragement and modeling tough mental focus while still enjoying a game I love. I tore my ACL in January of my sophomore year, so I spent a lot of time on the sideline for tennis and didn't have any opportunity to prepare for my junior season. All I could do last year was just rehab and hope to get cleared in time. This off season I've been taking lessons, hitting with friends, taking clinics, and playing in as many local tournaments as I can. Whatever this final season holds, I know I took advantage of being healthy and did my best to be prepared for my team.”
While tennis is on her mind, she looks ahead to a basketball season that saw her team lose to Butler twice last season, which cost the MVL title. But her mindset is a lot different this season as she looks to regain the crown. “I think the basketball squad has the deepest bench in the league and has all the talent to defeat Butler,” she said. “Last year's losses still sting. As a senior class prior to last year from third grade until then, we'd only lost to Butler once and that was in sixth grade. I don’t think it's going to happen again.” No matter the outcome, McCormick is ready to soak in the memories and enjoy her final season. She admits that many of her best times in high school will be looked back upon when she reflects on her high school days. “I think what I will take away the most from playing sports at Tipp are lifelong friendships,” she said. “Many of my closest friendships started and grew on the courts. So someday when I think about my time playing for Tipp, I don’t think it will be about the wins or losses, the last second basket or the winner in a tie-break. It will be about my friends - the laughter when someone tripped during practice, a team dinner after a hard practice, a hug when I had a rough game.”
“I don't know if I will walk away this year with championships, trophies or medals, but I know I’m walking away with lifelong friendships so it's a win for me no matter what.” McCormick hopes to attend The Ohio State University and is considering nursing with a focus on pediatrics.
