Kobelt to finish up memorable Syracuse career on Senior Day
Emma Feirberg | Asst. Photo Editor
When Maddie Kobelt plays her final two matches at Drumlins Tennis Club this weekend, she’ll stick to her routine.
Before every match of her illustrious four-year career, Kobelt takes time to pray and reflect. She usually writes a word or a Bible verse on her wrist. Colossians 3:23 often come to mind.
That verse reads, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
It’s a way for Kobelt to remind herself how the outcome of a match will never change her personality, or her prior success.
“Coming into this program, I’ve been able to grow in my tennis game and as a person,” she said. “I’ve been able to appreciate all of the experiences that I’ve had.”
As Syracuse (4-13, 4-8 Atlantic Coast) heads into its home matches against Wake Forest (11-11, 3-10) and No. 24 Notre Dame (14-8, 7-6) this weekend, Kobelt will be honored on Senior Day for her contributions over the last four years. She set the bar high as a freshman by winning 35 matches, and has used her senior year to positively affect the program moving forward.
Once she started to appreciate the team aspect of collegiate tennis, she grew into a player that recently became the 30th in program history to notch 100 career wins.
Syracuse interim head coach Shelley George has played an integral part in Kobelt’s development, and believes the senior has set an example for younger players while elevating her own game.
“She’s been coming on her own and spending extra time at the courts,” George said. “She understands that if you want to be the best, you have to outwork the best.”
As a senior, Kobelt continued establishing her aggressive style of play and continues to use her savvy veteran presence to her advantage. Both qualities helped Kobelt lead Syracuse to victories against two ranked opponents in then-No. 48 Virginia Tech and then-No. 25 Florida State.
She quickly built camaraderie with freshman Valeria Salazar to form the team’s best doubles pairing, and was resilient in her singles matches against some of the country’s elite players.
Kobelt’s mother, Paula Kobelt, said one of the more memorable performances of her daughter’s career came this season, when she won in singles and doubles at home over the Hokies.
When she needed to take control late in the doubles match against Virginia Tech, she gained more confidence with each powerful serve that soared past the opposition. And in singles, Kobelt immediately started in attack mode and earned the victory in a match lasting just two sets.
“She’s developed her game to have a more aggressive and confident game,” Paula Kobelt said. “Every summer, she’s dedicated a lot of her summers to tournaments with the other team members.”
When Kobelt graduates from Syracuse, her teammates will attempt to emulate the example she has set during her career.
Work hard. Don’t play for yourself. Play for one another.
If Syracuse follows the path of its senior leader, then it will be capable of competing at a high level this weekend, and in years to come.
“Learn to love the competition and to fight,” Kobelt said. “You put so much effort getting into college tennis.
“You owe it to yourself and your team to go out there and give it your best shot and see what you are capable of.”
Published on April 17, 2014 at 1:13 am