STARKVILLE — Starkville seniors Margaret Ann Sullivan, Townes Fulford, Brandon Shaffer, Riyaz Mathews and Dean Lockhart were celebrated for their respective careers as Jacket tennis players still got some work in despite the scheduled meet not going as planned.
The courts were full on Thursday, but not with games against scheduled opponent Greenville. Instead, the Starkville tennis team members celebrated Senior Day with matches against friends and family.
“It’s a little surreal,” Shaffer said. “All of the seniors before, you say that it goes by fast. You think they’re joking but it really does feel like I was just a sophomore playing soccer and tennis. It’s a bittersweet feeling but it’s fun being out here and playing with our parents and friends.”
“It’s one of the best days, seeing everyone out here having fun,” head coach Vanessa Shaffer said. “It’ll be tough seeing my top five players go, seeing their commitment to the sport, and losing that leadership and care for the sport. It’s a rebuilding year for me, I’m trying to relish in the moment because I’m proud of what they’ve done over the years and what they’ve put into the sport.”
Shaffer, Vanessa’s son, only recently celebrated Senior Day with the Jackets soccer team about a month ago. He grew up in a tennis family and played with the Jackets alongside his brother, Donovan.
“It’s amazing to have your brother and your mom on the team,” he said. “There are some downfalls, but it’s definitely been fun. My mom is a great coach and my brother has been growing over the years, it’s been fun to come out here and play together.”
Though Brandon’s favorite sport is soccer, he stuck with tennis. He has played with his parents since he could hold a racket, and that connection made the day all the more emotional for the Shaffers.
“It’s a proud moment to see him playing since he was four years old, playing all this time as a competitor,” she said. “Even though his real love is for soccer, I appreciate him still wanting to come out and play tennis. He’s talented and I’m proud to see him be an immensely tough player overall.”
Photo by Colin Damms/Dispatch staff
The group is full of multi-sport athletes, with multiple extracurricular activities on top of sports, but one plans to play tennis at the next level. Lockhart signed with Delta State University in the fall, joining a program coached by SHS tennis alum, Will Irvin.
“There were a few guys he was looking at but it worked out for me,” Lockhart said. “He played here at Starkville High as well and talked about keeping that pipeline open, and I’m glad he did because now I get to go play in college.”
The program is losing several key varsity members, but there is hope for the future. Shaffer expressed her excitement about her youngest son, Donovan, and Martina Hoffman, the returning number one in girls’ singles for the Jackets. She hopes to see more leadership from the next group of junior varsity players and a willingness to compete outside of school.
“The other teams we’re playing, that’s what they’re doing,” Shaffer said. “If we want to be at the top our players have to be signing up for tournaments and playing in the summer, or we won’t be able to compete with top schools like Tupelo and Madison Central.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
