Gap’s Coon beats hurting Repper

By Cody Clifton Correspondent
Published: May 24, 2008

FISHERSVILLE — Buffalo Gap’s Rachel Coon, the Shenandoah District tennis champion, took to the court against Michelle Repper of George Mason only minutes after the George Mason-Wilson Region III team match had ended. Coon was fresh, but Repper was warmed up, having played two matches already but something had to give.
Coon won the first set and held on, maintaining composure through a Repper injury, to advance to next Saturday’s regional final, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3.
Coon took the first set, despite not being able to manage a break the entire first set. In the tiebreaker, someone had to force a break of serve. Coon was able to get it done, holding off Repper and gain some momentum despite to overwhelming fan support for Repper.
The momentum from winning the first set was good for Coon who wasn’t expecting much coming into the match.
“I was very intimidated,” Coon said. “I actually told my mom, ‘If I get one game, I’ll be lucky’.”
Gap coach Ronnie Young agreed with Coon about the talent of Repper.
“We knew [Repper] had a good serve,” Gap coach Ronnie Young said. “We knew her backhand slice was deadly, so we tried to keep the ball a little deeper and a little bit higher to keep her away from those angles. I thought [Coon] did that.”
The second set was all Repper. Late in the set, fatigue set in as she began to cramp in her left calf muscle, hurting her service game by reducing her speed. Despite the injury, Repper was able to hold on to the second set, 6-3.
George Mason coaches took to the court after the second set to tend to, now crying and collapsed on the court, Repper. Repper fought through the second set but the pain only got worse.
The third set saw a huge turn of fan noise, as they tended to route more in favor of beating Coon than of encouraging Repper. Coon used this to stay focused.
“I tried to stay focused on my game and not be worried about her as much,” Coon said.
Repper continued to fall apart on the court,  trying to ease the cramps with Gatorade and bananas, but the damage had already been done.
Halfway through the last set, Repper right calf went. The second to last game, she lost her right hand, trying to bend her fingers around the racket with her left hand so that she could serve.
When Coon served to win the match, you could hear Repper crying and screaming at each ball she hit. Even though she lost the match she impressed everyone, commanding a standing ovation at the game and how hard she fought to make it to the end.