6/26/2009
TWO BECOME ONE
The News-Dispatch 2009 Girls Tennis Players of the Year
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Mary Katherine Slattery was new to town.

She grew up in Chicago, but the Marquette junior-to-be moved to Long Beach in sixth grade. She was familiar with the area because her family having a summer home here.

But when she moved to town for good, she didn't know many people.

Then, Katie Clancy came into the picture.

They first met as youngsters at Clancy's aunt's house for day care. When sixth grade at Notre Dame School started, the two began to talk.

It was the beginning of a friendship which continues today.

"I thought Katie was nice," Slattery recalled. "I think right from knowing her I knew she was a good person, and we were going to have a good friendship.

"She made me feel really comfortable."

Clancy said, "I always liked her. She seemed like a very good person."

By eighth grade, they were best friends.

Their bond, their chemistry and upbeat personalities, have vaulted them to being one of the top high school doubles tandems in the region. Fresh off their first state finals appearance, the duo was named The News-Dispatch 2009 Girls Tennis Players of the Year.

"It's a great honor," Clancy said. "We're very grateful."

The two went 16-1 this past season. The lone loss was 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 to Culver Academies' Andrea and Jessica Simon in the individual regional June 6 at Indianapolis Park Tudor High School.

They do virtually everything together: play sports, go to the beach, jet ski or just hang out.

They even finish each other's sentences and answer questions the same way. They are, like Forrest Gump once said, like peas and carrots.

"It's kind of obvious," Slattery said with a laugh.

In the preseason, first-year coach Ray Silvas had each girl on the Blazers' tennis team fill out index cards. On them, he wanted them to write out goals for the upcoming season, and desired spots to play. Slattery and Clancy wrote the same thing. Silvas said it was probably planned in advance.

Well, it sort of was.

"We hadn't put much thought into it before we walked in the door to see coach," Slattery said. "I just went up to Katie, 'What would you think about being a doubles team? It'd be a lot of fun.'"

Silvas was initially reluctant to put them together because his team needed the points in other spots. With Stephani Zakutansky, a solid player at No. 1 singles, Silvas needed to figure out where to get the other two points to win a match.

At the same time, he knew he just couldn't beat the chemistry the two had, saying in most cases with tennis, it takes an entire season for a doubles team to build the kind of relationship they already had.

In fact, it was better. He would've been selfish if he keep them apart, he said.

Also, one doubles partner is often the more outspoken, leader-type person, while the other handles their business quietly. Almost odd-couple-like.

But not these two. They're virtually identical as people and tennis players.

"She's like my sister to me," Slattery said.

They played singles a couple times during the season, and it was admittedly weird.

Different.

"I missed having Katie next to me," Slattery said. "We're each other's support system. When I'm down, she picks me up; when she's down, I pick her up.

"I really like having her with me. It keeps my spirit up. We play better together."

The excitement of reaching state after a dramatic victory and waiting period at the Portage Regional followed them for 10 days to Indianapolis.

The night before the match, they had a dinner party inside their hotel room to celebrate what they've done to that point, and to get ready for a new step in their tennis careers.

Their excitement then carried on to the tennis court.

It was a well-played match. Silvas was delighted with how well they played.

They each learned so much from the experience, and can't wait for the opportunity to do it again.

But the best part of it all? Getting to share the moment with their best friend.

Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.