The tennis season is officially underway for the Bulldogs and the girls of coach Judy Penner have a lot to look forward to with the return of players like juniors Dawci Butler and Rosy O’Callahan. But it’s the senior duo of Kendra Condict and Kieley Holladay that will be the focus of attention. Last year at this time both girls were playing singles and having good seasons. But then Penner made a bold decision to put Condict and Holladay together as a doubles team.
“It was a risky move on my part, but they had such good chemistry together that I felt they could go far, and they became the first girl’s double team to ever win regionals for Wagoner and then went on to place second in a close match at state.”
Both girls are multi-sport athletes with Kendra also playing softball while Kieley cheers and plays volleyball and VYPE magazine decided to find out more about this dynamic duo.
VYPE: So what did you think last year when coach Penner decided to put you into doubles?
Kendra: “I played doubles my freshman and sophomore years and so I was a little nervous last year when I started the season playing singles, but I think it made me a better player. And then when she decided to put me and Kieley together as a doubles team I was over the moon happy because we’ve been friends since second grade. It’s so fun being with someone who can make the game fun and that you can celebrate your success with.”
Kieley: “I told coach I didn’t think I could ever play doubles because I’m so hard on myself and I didn’t want to take that out on a partner. But now that we’ve played, I don’t think I would ever want to go back to singles. Kendra and I balance, encourage and challenge each other and I think that’s why it’s worked for us.”
VYPE: So what was it like going to state and having that success?
Kendra: “It was nerve wracking, but I knew that that our talents would work together great, and we just believed we could win it all and we came close. This year we’re out for blood-we want it all.”
Kieley: “I was really nervous because I wasn’t used to playing doubles. But when we got there, we just kept reaffirming our belief with every match and we had fun and did well. It gave me a fire to keep competing hard this year to get to the top.”
Both girls are active off the court as well. Kendra is in student council and senior class president as well as a member of the National Honor Society, Native American Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and FCCLA. Kieley is also in the National Honor Society, Native American Club, student council, and is secretary of the senior class and in FCA. After what they hope will be a gold medal year in tennis, they’ll be off to college next year with Kendra attending OU and Kieley cheering at OBU.
