Seymour’s Brooke Schafstall hits a forehand shot at No. 1 singles during the regional match against Columbus North at Bloomington South.
Tribune file photo
After three years of playing at No. 1 singles for the Seymour girls tennis team, Brooke Schafstall’s name is officially etched into the record books.
Schafstall didn’t get to have a freshman season due to COVID-19, so every year competing in Owls’ purple was as the top singles player. She took on every team’s best player in every match for three years, and Schafstall finished her career with an overall record of 46-14, which is the best all-time career record at Seymour High School.
“To me, it’s crazy that I’ve won and lost that many matches,” she said. “To be able to break those records is awesome. I didn’t think coming into tennis that I would be able to do that. It’s a great accomplishment.”
With her stellar senior season officially in the books, Schafstall has been named The Tribune’s Tennis Player of the Year. It’s the third straight year in which Schafstall has earned that distinction.
“I think I had a pretty good season,” she said. “I went out and tried my best and had fun with it.”
Over her three years, Schafstall has really grown as a player. She recognizes those changes, improving her serve, playing with more pace, having more versatility in her shot arsenal, but Schafstall felt she grew a lot in other areas, as well.
“There has been a lot of progression for me, especially as a person with all the wonderful teammates I’ve had,” she said. “Not only that, but as a player, too.”
Schafstall is more on the quiet side, but as a senior this past spring, she tried to become more of a leader by cheering her teammates on more during matches.
“I’m not a very outspoken person,” she admitted. “This year, I really had to step it up and encourage the younger players.”
Schafstall was all-Hoosier Hills Conference and all-District this season, as well.
Despite all of the individual accomplishments, the one thing she wanted to do most this season was keep the team sectional streak alive. Seymour had never lost a sectional since Schafstall has been playing, and she wanted to make sure they didn’t lose again.
“It was very important. At the beginning of the season, we didn’t know who would be in what spot,” she said. “I think (coach Brandon) Davis did a very good job, and all the other coaches helped, too. We all went into sectional saying, ‘We’re winning this no matter what.’”
The Owls did just that, beating Scottsburg to win sectional for the third straight year.
Schafstall’s favorite individual moment from this past season was when she aced Kathryn Wilson during the regular season match against Columbus North. Wilson is going to play DI tennis at Purdue University.
Schafstall also is going to continue her tennis career at the next level. She’s going to play at Indiana University East next year.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t cry (at the team’s awards banquet) because I know it’s not over. It’s just over playing with these girls, which is also really sad,” Schafstall said. “But I am very excited to continue to carry on, and I think I’ll have a really good time in college playing.”
Remaining members of the 2023 all-county girls tennis team:
Elise Hartung, Jr., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier, all-HHC, all-district.
Drew Hubbard, Jr., Trinity Lutheran: Team MVP.
Claire Combs, So., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier.
Brynn Burton, So., Brownstown Central: Team MVP.
Caroline Thompson, Sr., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier.
Jessica Hougland, Sr., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier.
Addison Hunsley, So., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier.
Ava Sunbury, So., Seymour: Sectional champ, regional qualifier.