AUBURN – Traditionally, opposing players shake hands as a sign of mutual respect and sportsmanship after a tennis match.
On Monday, after the Lewiston and Edward Little girls’ tennis match, Lewiston No. 1 player Amy Sarrazin hopped the net after defeating Jaimie Ward of Edward Little for the fifth and final point of Lewiston’s win. Instead of shaking Ward’s hand, Sarrazin dropped her racket and offered her a hug.
The two No. 1’s, Sarrazin and Ward, have played sports together since they were seven years old. The friendship started in soccer, and then spread to other sports as they grew.
“I got her into hockey later on,” said Sarrazin of Ward. “I think that I got her into tennis, too.”
Ward just laughed. “No you didn’t.”
Both players laughed. It really didn’t matter. What did, though, was the fact that the two friends were able to close out their regular-season, high school career with a match among friends.
“When I was in ladder matches earlier this year, I knew the Lewiston match was the last one of the year,” said Ward. “That was a big motivator for me to get to No. 1. I wanted to play against her in the match.”
As far as being competitive, Ward admits that Sarrazin has the upper hand – at tennis anyway.
“I’m better at everything else,” said Ward with a smirk. “I guess I should let her have one sport.”
Even though they compete as rivals, Sarrazin and Ward continue to stay friends. In fact, Sarrazin lost a few points, including an ace of serve to Ward because Ward used a technique that Sarrazin had showed her just two months before.
“That’s the last time I show her anything,” said Sarrazin.
If Lewiston manages the No. 1 seed and Edward Little the No. 4 or No. 5, the two teams might meet again in the playoffs.
jpelletier@sunjournal.com
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