Senior Caitlyn Hanulikova became the most recent player on the women’s tennis team to achieve 100 career wins during her time on the team. Hanulikova’s victory came on April 6, after winning a match at a home meet against Loras College. The last time this was achieved was in 2020; Hanulikova’s first year. She has since surpassed 100 wins, winning in a singles match against Central College on April 12. Hanulikova said she has trained hard and has had many supporters on her side to get to this point in her career.
Hanulikova has been playing tennis since she was three years old and her hard work has paid off in big ways. She credits her success on the court to her teammates, coaches and a lot of practice.
“A lot of my consistency and stuff like that comes from the fact that I’ve been playing for so long,” Hanulikova said. “Being consistent with what you do and making sure you show up [to practices] definitely helped me. I try to never miss a day because I’m there for the team, and they are there for me.”
One of her biggest supporters throughout the past two seasons has been her doubles partner, sophomore Hannah Colbert. Colbert has been playing with her, side by side, since Hanulikova’s junior year and has watched her improve her game.
“She is definitely someone I look up to the most,” Colbert said. “I have been her doubles partner since the spring of last year, so it’s been almost like a whole year that we have been partners. It’s just been absolutely amazing to watch her grow.”
Colbert said that Hanulikova is “the glue” that holds the team together. Hanulikova’s skill, hard work and determination will be missed on the tennis court next fall as the team will continue on without her.
“I think, right now, I try not to think about [Hanulikova leaving] because it is just so sad to think that she won’t be here,” Colbert said. “She definitely is someone who holds the team together, and we’re going to have to figure out how to do that better.”
Because of her hard work, accomplishments and dedication to the sport, Hanulikova worked her way up to become the women’s tennis team captain for her final year of tennis. She has especially done well with the First-Years on the team, making them feel at home. One of these First-Years is Grace Evers.
“I feel like she kind of holds the team together,” Evers said. “Especially since this is my first year, you go into this thing not knowing really what’s happening. She just holds that leadership role really well because you can tell she’s awesome at tennis, but she also loves tennis, and I think that’s motivating for the whole team.”