SACO — The Thornton Academy girls tennis team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in program history this spring, finishing the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record, and advancing to the conference final against eventual champion Falmouth.

Perhaps TA’s biggest asset was its top singles player, Eva Sachs.

Sachs, a senior, emerged as a leader for TA on and off the court, and proved to be among the elite players in Maine. Sachs finished the 2017 spring with a 15-0 overall record, and would also make it to the round of 16 at the state singles tournament.

Sachs was also named to the Southwestern Maine Activities Association’s first team for the second straight year, and was selected to the second team in both her freshman and sophomore campaigns.

TA coach Dan Frost was impressed with her work ethic as well as the impact she made on the club each match.

“She really worked hard and made tennis a priority, she did an exceptional job throughout the season to be undefeated,” said Frost. “(Her performance was) huge, we had some close matches so to know that we had Eva made all the difference in more than one match this season.”

Frost also felt that her tennis IQ was second to none, and helped propel her to the success she had throughout her high school career.

“She’s a smart player, she’s a mature player, and someone who can play point to point but can also see it from a whole match perspective. She’s not afraid to go three sets when she has to,” said Frost.

The Trojans will have quite the gap to fill next season, but Frost is confident that the younger Trojans will be prepared to step up, much thanks to the help Sachs provided during her time at TA.

“It’ll be a good position for a lot of our girls to be working toward,” said Frost. “She set such a great example and I think that though we’re losing her as a player, the time the girls got to spend watching her will be great for them.”

As the Trojans flip the page to 2018, they will miss Sach’s presence, and the play she provided at the top singles position.

“(We’ll miss) her consistency,” said Frost. “Her all-around consistency, her great attitude. She’s a strong all-around player.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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