The student news site of St. Teresa's Academy

DartNewsOnline

Breaking News
The student news site of St. Teresa's Academy

DartNewsOnline

The student news site of St. Teresa's Academy

DartNewsOnline

Dart News

Like mother, like daughter

Like+mother%2C+like+daughter
by Emily McCann and photos by Emma Wheatley

The relationships between coaches and players can vary. Some are filled with mutual respect. Some with the poking and prodding to reach full potential. But for senior tennis player Mickey Redlingshafer, her relationship with her coach is one of a kind.

Redlingshafer is coached by her mother, Mrs. Janice Redlingshafer. Janice took the vacant position as the STA assistant tennis coach under current head coach Mrs. Lana Krause.

“I was really excited actually,” Mickey said. “At the beginning of the season we didn’t have an assistant coach so I told my mom. I could kind of tell she was thinking about it but we weren’t really sure if it would be appropriate or not.”

[nggallery id= 329]

Before the season started, Janice and Mickey talked about things that needed to stay off the tennis court.

“Before deciding to coach, it was agreed in most instances I would not coach Mickey, but rather Coach Krause would be her primary coach,” Janice said. “It was important for Mickey to understand that during tennis practice I am also a coach and not just her mom. It would not be appropriate to question me about dinner or her weekend plans.”

According to Mickey, despite all her best efforts, she and Janice sometimes butt heads.

“Sometimes during practice, since she’s my mom, I feel like I don’t really want to listen to what she tells us to do,” Mickey said. “Since she’s my mom, and so like I know I should listen to her, but it’s different with her as a coach.”

Janice believes that so far, she and Mickey have had a successful season.

“We get along pretty well,” Janice said. “We don’t butt heads too much except when Mickey wanted to goof around too much.”

Senior tennis player and close friend of Mickey, Nicole Sakoulas says she takes note of Mickey and Janice’s relationship on the tennis court.

“It’s really fun,” Sakoulas said. “Sometimes Mickey jokingly starts to yell [at Janice]. We played a game one time and they were doubles partners, and it was really funny because they were just laughing and joking around.”

Mickey and Janice appreciate their on-court relationship, but don’t allow it to affect Mickey’s match performance.

“[During matches] I get most of my coaching from [head coach] Lana Krause,” Mickey said. “Since she’s my mom, that [coaching] just shouldn’t happen I guess. My mom does give me pointers on how to play during practice but in between games and stuff, I just talk to Lana.”

So the big question for Mickey and Janice is who’s better?

“Welllll, I could probably beat her,” Mickey said. “Actually, I don’t know. She’s better than me, but she hasn’t been playing tencap or anything for a while. She still might be better since she played in college [at K-State] all four years.”

Janice begs to differ.

“I think this old woman can still beat Mickey,” Janice said. “I just get into her head.”

All in all Mickey believes that having her mom as a tennis coach has helped their relationship.

“Having my mom as a coach is really great,” Mickey said. “Especially since this is my senior year.”

 

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

Please review the Dart's editorial policy before commenting. Please use your first and last name; anonymous comments will not be published.
All DartNewsOnline Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *