SHELBY Juniors Annie Mahek and Bella Carver Make History as the First Doubles Team to Qualify for State in 30 Years

After an impressive victory over Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic in the Division II district quarterfinals, Shelby juniors Annie Mahek and Bella Carver found themselves in a state of disbelief. It took a moment for the reality of their accomplishment to sink in. With this win, the dynamic Whippet doubles team secured a spot in the Division II state tournament. Just a few days later, they would compete to determine their seed spot.

The celebration began once they fully processed their achievement. Little did they know, this was a historic moment for Shelby. They became the first Shelby doubles team to qualify for the state tournament in 30 years, joining the ranks of Lori Felter and Tiffany LaSusa as the only doubles teams to achieve this feat in the program’s history. Additionally, they were the first Shelby tennis players to make it to state in 15 years, following Jordyn Parrigan’s singles qualification in 2008.

High School Girls Tennis: Mahek, Carver Qualify for Division II State Tennis Tournament After Districts

Mahek and Carver now join a short list of Shelby tennis state qualifiers. In 1991, Angie Felter became the program’s first state qualifier as a singles player, though she fell in her opening match 6-0, 6-0. The following year, Lori Felter and LaSusa made history as the first state-qualifying doubles team in program history, but unfortunately lost their first set 6-3, 6-4. However, they returned to the state tournament in 1993 and earned the distinction as the first Whippets to secure a win at state when they defeated Erika Sandor and Lori Shulman of Gates Mills Hawken 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). They eventually fell to Lisa Stephens and Carrie Bender of Canfield, the eventual state runners-up, with a score of 6-2, 7-5.

Parrigan, who represented Shelby in 2008, also made history as the only Whippet to win at state in the past 30 years. Unfortunately, she lost her first match to Lauren Davis of Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 6-0, 6-0.

While Carver and Mahek have already achieved more than most in Shelby tennis history, they’re not done yet. They hope to make even more history at the state tournament.

“It’s incredible to hear about the past years and the 15-year gap since anyone has made it to state,” said Carver. “This experience is truly special, and we’re grateful to be a part of it.”

For Mahek, this achievement has been a long time coming. She has participated in the district tournament for the past three years but only managed to qualify for state this year.

“Making it out of the district tournament is amazing,” Mahek said. “I’m really proud of us. We’ve put in a lot of hard work, but what sets us apart is the chemistry we have on the court. Despite traditionally being singles players, something special happens when we come together as a team. We just have that connection.”

The Tough Road to State

Carver and Mahek faced numerous challenges on their journey to qualify for the state tournament.

During the regular season, both players primarily played singles. Mahek held the No. 1 singles position, while Carver played at third singles. They led the Whippets to victory in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship, finishing with a perfect 11-0 league record and sweeping the MOAC tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

However, their path was far from smooth. Carver dealt with a nagging knee injury, resulting in a stretched meniscus that caused her to miss some playing time mid-season. She now plays with a brace on her left knee, but her dedication to her team allows her to power through the pain.

“The knee injury started last year and gradually worsened in the middle of this season, so I had to take a break to recover,” Carver explained. “The pain is something I can overcome, especially with the brace. In my mind, the pain is part of the process, and all the hard work is worth it in the end.”

When tournament time arrived, Carver and Mahek were paired together for the second year in a row. They advanced to the finals of the sectional tournament, where they faced a grueling match against Lexington’s Malaina Wolfe and Ulo Ezike. In a marathon match, Carver and Mahek emerged victorious with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 7-5. This win was crucial, as a loss would have pitted them against the eventual district champion, Ottawa Hills, in the quarterfinals, potentially jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for state.

The district tournament also presented its challenges. Carver and Mahek sailed through the first round, defeating Celina’s Elise Muether and Isabelle Thobe with a score of 6-2, 6-2. However, they faced a tough opponent in SMCC and experienced a setback in the second set, losing 3-6. They found themselves trailing 1-4 in the third set but rallied with an incredible comeback to win 6-4 and secure their spot at the state tournament.

Coach Jeff Kurtzman reflected on the team’s performance, noting their pattern of starting strong and finishing strong. “We always look great in the first five games and the final five games,” Kurtzman said with a laugh. “They won the first set 6-1, then things got a bit challenging when they fell behind 1-4. However, they realized they had nothing to lose and should go all-out. That mindset paid off.”

This victory boosted the girls’ confidence. Although they lost their semifinal match to Lima Central Catholic’s Libby Simmons and Claire Janoswski (6-0, 6-3), Carver and Mahek secured a crucial win in the consolation round, defeating Port Clinton’s Reagan Ruthsatz and Grace Arnold 6-3, 6-4. This secured them the No. 3 seed for the Northwest District, giving them a more favorable draw at the state tournament. Instead of facing the No. 1 seed from the Central District, Carver and Mahek will play Gahanna Columbus Academy’s No. 2 seed, Grace Philip and Sophie Wu.

The girls are prepared to make something special happen, just as they did in the sectional championship and district quarterfinals. “We’ve had matches where things didn’t look good, but we never gave up,” said Carver. “We’ve shown that we can persevere and achieve great things.”

“This demonstrates our ability to overcome challenges in the moment,” added Mahek. “We may experience moments of panic, but we always manage to calm each other down and get back into our game.”

As they head into the state tournament, Carver and Mahek have the full support of their town and county behind them. Their families, in particular, will be there to cheer them on. It is thanks to their families that they have reached this point. Carver’s father, Andy, played tennis for the Whippets in high school and continued his tennis career in college. Mahek is representing her sister, Grace, who played for the Whippets, received the MOAC Player of the Year award in 2021, and now plays at Cedarville University.

“Bella works closely with her father, and Annie has dedicated a lot of time to…

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