Jim Fair
Kylie Sandusky returns a volley in her final match last Friday.
Jim Fair
Teammates presented Kylie Sandusky a jersey with the signatures of the 2014 squad.
Jim Fair
Kylie Sandusky finds herself the center of attention after her final team match. Teammates presented a crown and boa for the occasion.
Jim Fair
"It's been wonderful having her as my coach. She's been like a second mom," said Kylie Sandusky, of her grandmother, Linda.
The last point of a tennis match, figures Kylie Sandusky, belongs to her.
The final competitive doubles match this past summer with best friend and playing partner Bree Burnette ended with a win on a volley.
Sandusky’s final point in her team competition for Greer High School was a winner last Friday.
“You want to win the last point of every match,” Sandusky said. “My strategy is to hit one more winner than my opponent.”
The demure Sandusky appeared regal sitting in a high-backed cushioned chair at Greer High School during an earlier interview. There was little outward sign of her ferocity on the court until asked about her competitiveness. “I live to play tennis,” she said.
Linda Sandusky, Kylie’s grandmother, has coached her since she began playing on the Greer Recreation courts on Tryon Street. “When Kylie came along we had the challenge system,” Linda said. “She wanted to play number one. Girls don’t like to play number one because they don’t like to lose.”
Linda and Kylie said there was little awkwardness as coach and granddaughter. “She’s a pleasure,” Linda said. “Kylie is easier to coach than my son was in cross country,” Linda said with a laugh.
Asked what Kylie calls her coach, Linda smiled and said, “Kylie calls me grandma. As do some of the other players.”
The storied career of Kyle Sandusky, spanning a phenomenal six years, 7th grade through high school, ends next month at the state championships.
Burnette, a freshman at Furman University, joined Sandusky’s teammates and their parents to celebrate Senior Day for the tennis team last Friday. Fittingly, the stage belonged to Sandusky, being the only senior on the team.
Greer Principal Marion Waters came to the courts Friday to pay his respects to Sandusky. “She is a good student, good athlete and good person. We could use more of her here,” he said.
“It’s really been a blur,” Sandusky said of her career. As captain for a young team, Sandusky said it allowed her to express the work and discipline tennis requires. “They looked up to me and I explained you can do better with practice and lessons. Some of the girls weren’t very confident.”
Confidence isn’t lacking in Sandusky. “There’s not many players who can serve an ace on second serve,” Burnette said. “(Kylie) is very competitive and what she doesn’t say she does with her stroke.”
The strokes that capture Sandusky’s imagination are Maria Sharapova’s serve and Serena Williams’s forehand and backhand.
Sandusky’s 100-match high school record will stand at 69-31 in singles and 63-21 for doubles. She finished 14-2 this season and 11-1 in doubles with partner Hannah Taylor.
During her high school career (grades 9-12) Sandusky had an 82 percent winning record, 54-12. She was 41-13 in doubles.
Sandusky said she has played matches where opponents appeared to be better or had a match at hand. “I don’t ever give up. I can get to things my opponent doesn’t think I can get,” she said. “I can be down and come back and win. When you play matches like that and win, you say ‘wow’.
After the state championships, Sandusky said she will pick a college to study physical therapy and continue her tennis career. “I want to help people who have helped me. I want to be in the training room,” she said.