MOUNT FOREST – Wellington Heights Secondary School student Victoria Herrington has won the silver medal at the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) Girls Singles Open Tennis Championship.
“It feels really good,” Herrington said of making it as far as she did. “I’m proud of myself but I know that I could’ve done better so I’ll try to do better next year.”
The Grade 11 student landed her spot at OFSAA after claiming the gold medal at the CWOSSA (Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association) Girls Singles Tennis championships on May 20 at the Greystone Racquet Club in Waterloo.
She then went on to represent Wellington Heights at the provincial OFSAA championships, held May 30 to June 1 at York University in Toronto.
With it being her first time at OFSAA, Herrington previously told the Advertiser she was excited to represent her school heading into the tournament.
“I mean it was awesome,” she said of competing at OFSAA. “You’re playing people from anywhere in the province so it’s just a really cool experience.”
The Wellington Heights student is no stranger to the game and has been playing tennis since she was about five years old.
On day one of the tournament, Herrington defeated Pauline Boerner 8-1 in the first round before advancing to the second day after her competition forfeited in round two.
On day two Herrington faced Michelle Gray, beating her 8-0 in the quarter finals.
In the semi-finals, Herrington defeated Emma Akselrod 8-4, moving her on to the gold medal championship final on day three.
Herrington faced the #1 ranked Katherine Zhang in the finals. She won the first set but was ultimately defeated 8-2, putting her in the silver medal position.
“I was really just trying to play my game that I had been playing for the whole tournament up until that point,” Herrington said of the match.
“So I was just trying to be really focused and playing the match one point at a time.”
Herrington confirmed she will be competing again next year during her final year at Wellington Heights.
The tournament marked the end of the tennis season for school, but Herrington said she will be playing and training throughout the summer to ready herself for next year’s school season.
“During the summer we play pretty much every day when it’s nice out and we can get outside,” she said.
