ITHACA HIGH TENNIS: MEHRABYAN EYES ANOTHER RUN AT STATES
By Maria Wolman
Ithaca Journal, NY
Oct 25 2006
ITHACA – Ithaca High School student Lucy Mehrabyan learned a lot
about hard work and winning as a youth on the tennis courts of Armenia.
Mehrabyan was born in Armenia and began playing tennis there at the
age of 4 before coming to the United States.
"In Armenia, we play on red clay. We don’t have many sponsored
tournaments and there are not too many opportunities, but we do train
very hard. The coaches are very serious," Mehrabyan said.
That hard work, plus a lot of tennis skill, has paid dividends for
Mehrabyan. She has not lost a high school tennis match all year.
This weekend, she will attempt to qualify for her third straight trip
to the New York state high school tennis tournament.
The Section 4 state qualifier begins Friday at the Binghamton Tennis
Center. Mehrabyan won the past two state qualifier meets and hopes
to do the same this year.
"I expect her to win it this year," Ithaca High School tennis coach
Sue Redding said.
What’s remarkable about Mehrabyan’s accomplishments is that the she
is just a freshman, meaning her previous state qualifier victories
came when she was in only seventh and eighth grades.
The top three finishers in the Section 4 state qualifier advance to
the state tournament, held the following weekend in Syracuse.
Although Mehra-byan has advanced to states the past two years, only
last year did she play well enough to advance to the second day of
state competition.
The state field will likely be wide open this year.
"I can’t say if I will win," Mehrabyan said. "I would like to play
the best tennis I can. For me, playing the best tennis I can is better
than winning."
Despite Redding’s 20 years of experience coaching high school tennis,
she too is unsure of whether Mehrabyan will be the 2006 state champion.
"I can’t say [if Lucy will win states] because I haven’t seen what’s
out there," Redding said. "I think she should do pretty well, but to
win it, I just can’t say. If she continues at the rate she’s going,
then she’s bound to win it sometime – she’s only a freshman."
Mehrabyan’s off-season is dedicated to training and practicing. She
takes lessons from a coach at Cornell University and also spends time
playing with her father and sister.
"She is very well-respected and works well on the court and helps out
members of her team. She does very well in school, and she’s got a very
hard work ethic and is very consistent [in her game]," Redding said.
Consistent tennis success has produced thoughts of turning
professional.
"I’ve been wanting to turn pro for a long time, but turning pro is
very serious. It’s a lot of moving from one place to another, and
I’d have to leave my school. For now, I think I want to try to play
at a good college," Mehrabyan said.
With professional dreams and the limitless possibilities of a college
career, Mehrabyan recognizes that her introduction to tennis in
Armenia has allowed her to keep her tennis options open.
"I know she can play at a Division I college," Redding said. "She’s
very consistent and she loves the game. This is my 23rd season [around
high school tennis] and Lucy is the best female I’ve seen out there
at such a young age."