State medal key caps Enge’s caeer

Source: The Star

2009 photo

Olathe East graduate Arin Enge plans to attend Ferris State University in Michigan on a tennis scholarship.

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Fate seemed to conspire against Arin Enge when the Kansas 6A state tournament rolled around.

The Olathe East senior always seemed to reach the state’s ultimate high school tennis challenge, but never had much luck when he got there.

The debilitating leg cramps his junior season are Exhibit A in Enge’s case that fate treated him unfairly where state was concerned. The painful spasms cost Enge a match he was winning with ease before they set in.

With a fourth-place finish in the Sunflower League tucked safely away along with a third-place finish at the regional meet, Enge got one last crack at state, at earning a medal there, at erasing some bad memories and rewriting history for himself.

But another first-round loss, despite tiebreaks at the end of both sets, seemed to fit a familiar and heartbreaking pattern.

Just as quickly, though, that fickle mistress fate stepped in on Enge’s behalf.

After a lackluster start to what could have been his final match at state, a thunderstorm forced play to halt and allowed Enge to regroup.

Nine games — and nine game wins — later, Enge finally had a long-sought win at the state meet.

He went on to earn an elusive medal, placing seventh in 6A and as a result can add another achievement to his career: Enge is the 2009 Olathe News Boys Tennis Player of the Year.

“It was such a relief that I finally got it done,” he said on his medal-winning performance at state. “It was a perfect way to end it.”

2009 All-Olathe boys tennis teamARIN ENGE, SR, OLATHE EAST

Enge capped his standout Hawks career by finishing fourth in the Sunflower League and seventh at the Kansas 6A state meet.

BENSON JAMES-SPENCER KEIL, SRS, OLATHE SOUTH

Relative unknowns before the season began, James and Keil went out in style by placing 10th and earning a medal at state. The duo also finished fourth at league before rebounding to claim second at the regional.

ROB BREEDEN-GORDON HARTON, SOPHS, OLATHE EAST

The young tandem qualified for state after finishing third at the regional and also placed third in No. 1 doubles at league, including a win against Spencer-Keil.

DANIEL CHENG-ROB CONSTANCE, SRS, OLATHE EAST

Returning to the tennis courts for one last high school season, the veteran twosome qualified for state after finishing fourth at the regional and also claimed third in No. 2 singles at league.

- 2009-06-19 17:16:03