Teutopolis Tennis Standout Tabbert Caps Stellar Senior Season with State Appearance

Kolten Tabbert, a senior at Teutopolis High School, capped off his impressive high school tennis career with a trip to the state tournament, marking a significant turnaround from his junior year. Tabbert's determination and hard work paid off as he claimed the Robinson sectional singles crown and made his first individual appearance at the state competition.

Redemption and Resilience: Tabbert's Triumphant Senior Season

Avenging a Disappointing Junior Year

Kolten Tabbert knew he had unfinished business to attend to after a disappointing junior season. Determined to make amends, the Teutopolis senior set his sights on redemption, and his efforts did not go unrewarded. Tabbert finished his senior campaign with an impressive 23-8 singles record, a marked improvement from the previous year. His crowning achievement came when he won the Robinson sectional singles championship, a feat he considers one of the highest accolades a southern Illinois player can attain."The way last year ended, I felt like I needed to avenge myself," Tabbert reflected. "Winning the (sectional) singles championship was definitely the highlight of my career. In my opinion, it's one of the highest achievements you can get as a southern Illinois player."

Polishing His Game Under Coach Lee's Guidance

Tabbert credits his head coach, Jonathan Lee, for playing a pivotal role in his development over the past two years. Lee's emphasis on becoming more aggressive in his playing style proved to be a game-changer for Tabbert."The last two years, (Jon) has been telling me to get more aggressive in my play style," Tabbert explained. "This year, sometimes, I'd go back to my old habits of playing defense. Jon really got that through to me this year."Lee, in turn, praised Tabbert's exceptional talent and work ethic, describing him as an "exceptional tennis player" who was willing to put in the extra effort to improve his game."For the amount of time he's played tennis, I was extremely impressed," Lee said. "He centers the ball very well. He will do that little extra to make them hit two, three, four more shots and it wins him so many points and, in the end, it wins him so many matches. I don't know if I had a harder worker on my team in the last two years that wanted to get better."

Navigating the Postseason with Confidence

Tabbert's postseason run was nothing short of impressive. He breezed through the early rounds, defeating opponents from Casey-Westfield, Newton, and Richland County, the latter of whom he had lost to earlier in the regular season."When we played earlier in the year, I had an elbow injury, so I wasn't at my best," Tabbert explained. "I was out of rhythm a little bit."Tabbert's strong performance at the sectional tournament earned him a spot at the state competition, where he faced a new level of competition."Players are really good," Tabbert said, reflecting on his state tournament experience. "It's a different level."Despite falling in the second round, Tabbert's state tournament appearance was a testament to his growth and determination, and a fitting conclusion to his high school tennis career.

Continuing His Tennis Journey at the Collegiate Level

Tabbert's success on the court has not gone unnoticed, as he will continue his tennis career at Southwestern Illinois College in the fall. This opportunity to play at the collegiate level is a testament to Tabbert's hard work and dedication, and a fitting culmination of his high school tennis journey.

The Habing Cousins: A Formidable Doubles Team

Alongside Tabbert's individual success, the Habing cousins, Josh and Colin, emerged as a formidable doubles team for Teutopolis. The duo, who have tennis in their blood, finished the season with an impressive 23-7 record.The Habings' journey was not without its challenges, as they initially struggled to find the right chemistry on the court. However, under Coach Lee's guidance, the cousins were able to overcome their differences and peak at the perfect time – the sectional tournament."It was hard to put them together," Lee admitted. "I kind of just threw them together to start the year at the Mattoon tournament. The chemistry wasn't there. They were kind of on edge against each other, but they grew throughout the season. I could see the end of the road with them getting better."The Habings' sectional title triumph was a testament to their hard work and the progress they made as a team. At the state tournament, they faced a new level of competition, but their experience and growth as a doubles unit allowed them to finish the season with a respectable 3-2 record."I learned that Colin and I had a lot more chemistry than I thought we had," Josh Habing reflected. "I definitely felt like we've grown a lot and winning was pretty nice."The Habing cousins' journey serves as a testament to the power of teamwork, perseverance, and the ability to overcome challenges, a fitting complement to Kolten Tabbert's individual success.