Poplar Bluff’s Booker reflects on successful season

Winning a district championship is a great accomplishment, but winning another one is making a statement. Poplar Bluff High School tennis player Kaitlyn Booker entered her junior year with something to prove and helped the Lady Mules accomplish one of their best seasons in recent years.

Earlier in the season, Booker said she wanted to see improvement from the entire team. Though she accomplished most of her goals individually last season, she wanted to see the Lady Mules take a major step forward with how they approached the game.

The Lady Mules finished off their regular season with a record of 10-4, and their historic season closed early in the playoffs as they fell short to St. Pius X (Festus) 5-4 in the second round of the Class 2 District 1 Tournament.

Though the Lady Mules didn’t go far as a team, Booker was amazed with the jump they made compared to last season.

“I felt really great about how our tennis season went,” Booker said. “We made so much of an improvement from last year. I think we were closer than ever this year as a team in general and I’m also happy about how I did as a player.”

Booker finished with a 9-3 record on the season individually, placed second in the SEMO conference tournament and won the Class 2 District 1 girls singles championship for the second-straight year.

Booker set a goal for herself at the beginning of the season to capture another district championship, proving that last year‘s win was not a fluke.

“Last year, I felt like the odds were really in my favor to win districts because a lot of things went my way,” she said. “I wanted to prove this year that I had what it took to win then and now. I wanted to prove to everyone, mostly myself, that I had the skills to do it again, no matter the situation.”

When it comes to being perfect on the tennis court, coach Michelle Massey said Booker is as best as they come. Over the years Massey has seen the growth with Booker and said her dedication to getting better is like no other.

“She’s a fighter and plays really hard,” Massey said. “She works on and off the court. She’s the type of player that doesn’t just go home after practice and not think about tennis anymore. She goes to the gym, eats right and always exercises and runs. In the summer. She’s at the courts all the time taking lessons, so she is definitely somebody who is driven and has what it takes to really work hard and be a champion, and that’s why she ends up being number one on our team.”

At the Class 2 Singles State Tournament, Booker managed to get out of the first round, winning 6-4 in both sets. Her run would end after falling in the second round, and though she didn’t win it all, it was still great to be there.

“It was definitely a great experience,” Booker said. It was really fun to see and watch all the other girls that have been playing since they were really young. I enjoyed playing against some of the best because there was some tough competition. State didn’t end exactly how I wanted to, but it’s making me set goals for next year, and hopefully, I can do better and make it back next year.”

Now that Booker’s junior season has wrapped, she will take a small break from tennis to play her second favorite sport, pickleball. She plans to join a few winter leagues to compete in some tennis tournaments to perfect her game even more.

Massey is extremely proud of Booker and looks forward to having her again next year as a player who can lead the Lady Mules.

“Kaitlyn is a big motivator for our varsity, and she constantly pushes to be the best, which rubs off on the other girls,” Massey said. “Next year, we will have five of our top six return, so that’s big for us. I think all the girls are motivated to improve next summer after a great year, and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for us.”