Keri Thompson Having A Rewarding Sophomore Season
3/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 5, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - When Michigan State head women's tennis coach Tim Bauer begins to coach players he believes will help in continuing to build in the success of his program, his philosophy is quite simple. He does two things - tries to maximize players' strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
Sophomore captain Keri Thompson has lived up to that philosophy and has even taken it upon herself to improve her style of play and maximize her strengths to become a more complete player for the Spartans. Along the way the Clark Lake, Mich., native has managed to pace the team in victories this season and amass an almost perfect 9-1 singles and 7-3 doubles record in spring competition, as well as, a 16-3 singles record overall.
Hard work seems to be paying off in just her second season at the college level, but for Thompson the road to success at MSU hasn't necessarily been an easy one. Thompson finished her freshman season with a 16-28 record overall as the Spartans finished ninth in the Big Ten; but her coach predicted something different for the determined players' second season.
"A lot of what happened last year is a foundation of what she's built into success this year," stated the fourth-year head coach. "When you have a player who takes it upon themselves to improve, that's when they get better."
With the help and trust of Bauer and a bit of confidence and self-determination, Thompson has allowed herself to develop a style of play that is better suited for her game and that of the Spartan tennis program. Credit is usually given to those players who take a step backwards in order to gain something in the future, especially if what you gain is wins and Keri Thompson has done just that.
"There's a period in time when learning a new style where you don't play as well as you did before and I give Keri credit for being brave enough and trusting enough to just go for the changes," commented Bauer. "Players usually don't change their style as much as Keri has done. Her determination to become better is one of the things she should be the most proud of and is definitely one of the things I'm most proud of."
Thompson has been a quick learner while attacking her weaknesses and turning them into strengths and the hard work is paying off.
"When I first started working with coach (Bauer) he introduced me to all these new techniques. I listened to what he said and noticed that the new things were working and I began to trust everything he was teaching me," said Thompson. "Coach told me I was a quick learner so when I began to change a part of my game, I become committed and put 100 percent into the change right away so the results will come quicker. I just listen to and do what coach tells me because I'm confident that it will make me a better player."
Perhaps it takes a certain type of personality and individual will to become the type of athlete Keri has become, but her confidence and consistency have helped lift the Spartans to a new level and her contributions are showing. For Thompson, her determination seems to be her drive.
 | "There's a period in time when learning a new style where you don't play as well as you did before and I give Keri credit for being brave enough and trusting enough to just go for the changes. Players usually don't change their style as much as Keri has done. Her determination to become better is one of the things she should be the most proud of and is definitely one of the things I'm most proud of." MSU head coach Tim Bauer |
"I'm really confident right now," commented the kinesiology major. "I set high goals for myself and right now I just want to keep winning and I want the team to win our Big Ten matches, not because we should, but because I believe we can do it."
Michigan State is 0-2 in the Big Ten this season with the next conference contest slated for March 15, in Ann Arbor, against in-state rival and nationally ranked Michigan. With Thompson in the line-up and the leadership and determination she brings to the court, another challenge may just produce something positive for the Spartans.
Thompson's leadership has been positive and her drive to keep improving and making her team better shows no signs of slowing. Thompson considers being a team captain as an accomplishment itself.
"It's definitely a privilege to be a captain on this team," said Thompson. "I see it as an accomplishment and I'm proud to be able to say that I'm a captain."
The Lumen Christi High grad has aspirations to be a physical education teacher and coach after college and her charisma around others makes it seem fitting.
"Keri's personality can lift the team," said Bauer. "She's has a huge heart and has the unwavering ambition of a champion which is her strongest asset."
Thompson credits much of her success to her family who she says may be the biggest reason she still loves the game so much. She has two older sisters who have competed at the Division I college level and admits their experience and guidance have only made the ride easier for her.
"My family has been huge throughout everything. I don't know if I'd ever be playing tennis without them," explains Thompson as she recalls a memory from her childhood. "I remember coming home when I was younger and wanting to sit down and eat junk food and watch T.V. and my mother would start yelling for me to, 'get outside and practice.' Because my sisters are older I got an early start with tennis and my parents have been going through this tennis routine forever. Their guidance has helped me so much."
Keri Thompson is now guiding her team and the future only looks bright for the Spartan sophomore.
"Sometimes players work hard and you see the results and sometimes you don't," adds Bauer. "It's very good for the team and for Keri. We live by the motto that 'hard work pays off' and that's all this is."
