Receiving special honors at the Brownstown Central girls’ tennis awards program were, from left, Audrey Scarlett, Brynn Burton, Genna Preston and Eulah Beavers.
Arv Koontz | The Tribune
BROWNSTOWN — Junior Brynn Burton received most valuable player honors when the Brownstown Central tennis team held an awards program at the high school tennis courts Monday night.
“(Burton) had a really good record playing a tough position,” Braves head Coach Erik Stangland said.
Burton played No. 2 singles for most of the season. She was also named to the Mid-Southern all-conference first team, along with Audrey Scarlett.
Scarlett and Genna Preston played No. 2 doubles in the sectional. Preston, a sophomore, received the mental attitude and was named MSC honorable mention.
“(Preston) definitely put forth a lot of effort and was definitely deserving (of most improved),” Stangland said.
Freshman Eulah Beavers received the mental attitude award. Stangland said Beavers did a good job of supporting the team. Stangland said the voting was close for the special awards
The Lady Braves tied for third in the MSC with a record of 5-3, and Stangland spoke about their season.
“It was a good season, and a really good conference season,” he said.
The Braves were 6-8 overall in 2023-24.
“We had our chances,” Stangland said. “I wish I could have convinced them that they could have a winning record.”
Stangland said the seniors- Scarlett, Jenna Bolte, Kylie Eglen, Kaitlyn Williams, and Maddie Singleton – meant a lot to the program the past four years.
“Playing No. 1 takes so much effort,” Stangland said of Bolte. “Every time out you’re going to be playing the best player from the other school. Jenna chose to play No. 1. She struggled with everything, but she worked hard.”
Stangland said Eglen and Singleton played a lot against the freshmen and sophomores to make them better players for the future, and he appreciated that.
He said it feels like the team he would have had in the spring of 2020, lost out of good tennis because they didn’t get to play because of Covid.
He said he feels like this team also lost a lot to the weather. “It was a tough year.” He said there were 12 changes to the schedule because of the weather.
Assistant coach Sabrina Wonning said, “We had to learn to plot with the weather. The season was a lot of fun.”
Stangland encouraged the returning players to play tennis this summer at least once a week, and to play in tournaments, go to clinics and take lessons.
He also asked the parents to encourage their daughters to play more tennis.
Scarlett and Preston also received their letter jackets.