I never could understand the scorekeeping logic in tennis. I mean, 40 - Love? Forty to zero - maybe a lot of love for one team. Anyway, tennis is such a fun sport to play competitively and recreationally. For two young ladies full of life, it has become a sport that fills many gaps.
The two sisters captured the GVC (Greater Valley Conference) District doubles championship and advanced to the 6A Oregon State Tournament. In addition to the successful season, they were named the Statesman Journal All-Mid-Valley Players of the Year.
Sandy and Hannah Childress have excelled on the tennis court. Sandy is the older sister of the two. This past year in 2015 she was a senior at McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon, and Hannah was a freshman. They are the daughters of Dave and Jenny. The two girls grew up in Long Beach, California, in a lower-middle class neighborhood - the projects.
"We'd go to Disneyland every Friday - it was so much fun!" Hannah said.
"We stopped going when Hannah was too old to get a free pass," Sandy said.
When Sandy was eight she attended Newcomb Academy Elementary School in California, Hannah was not in school yet. In 2005, their dad was recruited to be a pastor in Oregon. So the family packed up and moved to Keizer where they both attended Clearlake Elementary, Whiteaker Middle School, and McNary High School.
"I really thought that we were just going on a vacation, but then we never returned," Hannah said.
It was Jenny, the mom, that inspired Sandy to start playing tennis. Jenny was a top-notch tennis player at Sonoma St. University, which is just north of San Francisco -- she was very competitive. Her daughter, Sandy, played basketball, but things weren't working out for her. Her mom encouraged her to give tennis a try. She started playing the game and discovered that she actually liked it a lot. Her mom and dad signed her up for tennis lessons.
"Once I started playing tennis, I just kept working hard at it to improve as much as I could," Sandy said.
Hannah was huge into softball as a young girl. She was a great pitcher and part of several competitive teams. Softball, to her, stopped being fun because of the drama on the team -- especially the parents. Sometimes the parents are the ones that take the fun out of sports. After trying different leagues, things just weren't working out so she dropped out of softball completely.
"Sandy kept asking me to come play tennis. My mom also kept asking me because Sandy was playing. I hated tennis before playing it, but once I tried it I just kept playing it and started loving it," Hannah said.
Among their peers the two sisters are a little different. Sandy is a hard worker and more on the shy side, but once she gets to know someone she'll socialize more. Hannah is more outgoing and social, everyone likes her and she enjoys talking to anyone. Hannah is a few inches taller than her older sister.
Dave and Jenny have always been very supportive of the girls, they encourage them as much as they can. Tennis lessons and driving to different places for matches add more to the cost. And then there's equipment to be purchased and the time put in -- all the sacrifices made were worth it for the Childress family.
"We only wish we could have sent them to tennis camps, but we just didn't have the funds for that. They've had to do a lot of training on their own -- they've done well," Dave said.
When both girls started attending McNary High School, the girls tennis program took a turn for the good. Hannah was winning singles matches as a freshman on the varsity team. Sandy was doing the same with an added responsibility as the captain of the team.
"Things were a little confusing, because of the coaching situation. Our coach, Myers Reid, who had the tennis knowledge, was coaching the boys team and we didn't get her until the district championships," Hannah said.
"We were happy that we did have an assistant coach, Derick Handley, who was great and helped us with many things, but he just didn't have the tennis knowledge that the boys' coach did. If it wasn't for Coach Handley we would not have been able to play tennis," Sandy said.
Despite the coaching situation, Sandy and Hannah practiced hard at getting better throughout the season. On an average practice day, they would warm-up first followed by racket drills, volley drills, and serving drills. They also did a lot of running. Their practice usually ran an hour and a half.
"I try to play tennis year-round, Hannah can't because she plays volleyball. I also like playing against boys because they hit the ball harder -- it's just better practice for me," Sandy said.
"We benefit so much being sisters because we are always playing against each other. Sandy is always asking me to come play some tennis -- that has helped me get better really fast," Hannah said.
The sisters are both members of the Courthouse Tennis Club and they consistently work hard to one day get a national ranking to help their future in the tennis world.
"Blue Chip is pretty impossible to get, but I think we could someday work for a 2 Star or 1-Star ranking," Hannah said.
Each year top prospects accolades to the best players in each class are awarded. The very best players are tabbed as Blue Chips which would be NCAA Division I college material. Then more players are awarded 5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 2 Star, and 1 Star.
As a freshman in high school, Hannah found out that she had broken the barrier that held her back as being one of the top players in the GVC and possibly the state. Her sister normally played as the number one singles. Sandy could not be at a match in McMinnville, Oregon. The coach put Hannah at the number one singles and she was facing top tennis player, Caitlin Baker. Caitlin blew Hannah away in the first set, 1 - 6.
Head Coach Myers Reid had a talk with Hannah after the first set. Hannah didn't know what to do. But with her mental toughness and the will to not give up, she bounced back defeating Caitlin Baker, 6 - 4 and 7 - 5 on the final sets. She won the match.
"That match gave me a lot of confidence and at the same time put a little pressure on me -- because people will now expect me to do well every time," Hannah said.
"My sister and I do everything together, we are best friends -- it's nice to have the common bond we have. I think that's what makes us a great team," Sandy said.
Tennis has taught the Childress sisters many things about life in general. The game has taught them not to give up even when you're down, like in Hannah's case where she had to bounce back from a 1 - 6 loss. They have gained social skills. In addition to the sisters being best friends, they have also made a good friend in Tayler Rains -- a close friend they've gotten to know. The two have learned to overcome adversity and excel despite any uncomfortable situation.
"Sometimes it's stressful, not so much in high school, but in USTA Tennis where it's all about winning -- it's more intense. I just want to be active and enjoy life, because at the end of the day ... it's just a game," Hannah said.
In the academic world, Sandy maintained a 3.71 GPA and Hannah maintained a 3.75 GPA. Sandy took three AP classes and Hannah took two honors classes.
"Yeah, I studied late at night, with tennis practices and tournaments I liked waiting until the evening," Sandy said.
"I liked to get my homework done as soon as possible. Sometimes I would go to study hall to get it done at school. I was always telling Sandy to take me home so I could study," Hannah said.
Sandy and Hannah had a remarkable season and placing fourth at state was a great ending especially for Sandy who was completing her final year of high school. Who would have guessed that she would be playing tennis at Sonoma St. University next year?
"We had prepared a video of me playing tennis for the coach at Sonoma St. and we emailed it to him. When he finally received it we got word that it was not a great quality video and there wasn't enough of my play in it," Sandy said.
Eventually the coach at Sonoma St. invited Sandy to come watch their practice. There were two other girls looking at playing there, these girls were ranked 2 Star and Sandy was unranked simply because she never had the exposure or opportunities. The coach had Sandy play one of the college players that was on the team already at a local park. He watched from afar.
The coach told Sandy that he was impressed with the way she hustled on the tennis court -- her quickness and athletic ability. He knew Sandy had talent, but the college was already offering a spot to the 2-Star girls. He said that Sandy could play on the team if one of the 2-Star girls decided not to play at Sonoma St.
A few weeks later Sandy received a call from the Sonoma coach. One of the 2-Star girls did not join the team and Sandy was on the team. There are six spots and she would get the sixth spot.
"When I got the call I was so excited! I ran over to tell my mom and she was screaming with me. My dad was sad because I was leaving," Sandy said.
A bitter-sweet situation for Hannah, because she will no longer have her best friend to play against anytime she wants.
"I'll miss her, she would give me rides to tournaments and practices, and she's my best friend. I won't have her to practice with," Hannah said.
Dave and Jenny are very proud of their daughters. They both cheer for them differently. Jenny yells loud and coaches from the bleachers, where Dave is quiet and just keeps it inside.
Hannah, Dad, and Sandy
"It's definitely nerve-racking, I want them to do well. When I watch their games I normally pray for them to do their best and I let the winning take care of itself. They remind me of when I was playing sports. It's nice that they can have a little bit of success and be happy," Dave said.
Hannah will be returning for her sophomore year at McNary High School, You can count me in to come watch her play as I encourage everyone in Keizer to do the same - she has a great future ahead of her.
Sandy will be at Sonoma St. University where she plans on studying to some day become a forensic accountant for the FBI. She will also be the number six player on the tennis team. Best of luck to both girls!
Sandy and Hannah, what are your goals for next year?
Sandy: I would love to stay on the Sonoma St. tennis roster and play the entire year.
Hannah: I don't want to have that expectation that I'm going to do very well, but I know that some people will have high expectations. I would love to win at district in singles and I would love to make it to state again.
Favorite movie?
Sandy: The Heat
Hannah: I like true stories, and I guess The Heat like Sandy
Favorite Athlete?
Sandy: Serena Williams
Hannah: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
What kind of advice can you give a young athlete?
Sandy: If you really want to accomplish something, you have to put in the time and effort. Hard work pays off.
Hannah: Tennis is stressful, be competitive but make sure you have fun. If you lose or things don't go the way you want them to, don't get down, because at the end of the day, it's only a game.