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By Jay Spivey

For the Clemmons Courier

It’s been a frustrating season for the West Forsyth girls tennis team, but don’t tell that to junior Lily Turek.  

Turek, who just picked up tennis 2.5 years ago, just loves the experience of being with her friends on the team and competing with members of other teams.   

“The reason I started playing tennis was actually I was in PE my freshman year, and we went outside and we went on the tennis courts. And I just really liked it for some reason I just. I don’t know. So, I told everyone, ‘Oh, I’m just going to start playing tennis now since I like it so much.’ 

“And eventually just started playing.” 

Before picking up a racket as a freshman in gym class at West Forsyth, it was just a passing fancy for Turek. 

“I never used to pay attention to tennis,” she said. “I was focused on more other sports, and I never really thought about tennis.” 

Even in ninth grade, she had a personal coach to help her with the basic swings in tennis. 

“I feel like I picked up on it really quickly because it was a one-on-one thing,” Turek said. “I had not been playing for very long, but I feel like I picked up very quickly with hitting the ball. And then eventually I just started to be able to hit, and I just learned more techniques.” 

Turek believes she had good hand-eye coordination. However, with tennis, it’s all about timing.  

“It was pretty easy to hit the ball,” she said. “Of course, I would miss more because I never played, but it honestly was bad or as hard as I thought it would be. I think just because I picked up on it really quickly. But whenever I would hit the ball, it would just go up kind of high in the air which is kind of expected for your first time playing tennis. But yeah, that’s really what would happen.” 

The important thing with picking up new sports, whether it be tennis or something else, you have to keep a strong mindset.  

“Sometimes, I guess I would feel a little bit out of place, but honestly, like I just had to keep on telling myself, like I was just happy with myself that I started playing rather than being like super-good.” 

Before she picked up tennis, Turek played soccer, did Taekwondo, as well as some gymnastics.  

“I think Taekwondo helped me build my strength,” she said. “And soccer, like with my agility.” 

Although she didn’t play for the Titans her freshman season, she started thinking about trying out for team shortly after that season.  

“I just told myself, I was like, ‘Well, I started playing tennis and I’m going to try out for the tennis team,’” Turek said. “I guess that was kind of my main goal was when I had played tennis. Really the first time, it was, ‘I want to try and make the team.’” 

And try out for the team last year as a sophomore she did. One unique aspect of her going out for the team last year is that each player makes the team, no matter the skill level. Turek had to prove herself through challenge matches with her teammates, as well as to co-Head Coaches Gordon McEachran and Jeff Rickert.  

“I just knew that she was new to our team,” Rickert said. “And she definitely played a factor last year. She was one of our rotation players – I mean she was in the rotation. So, she was a big help last year, and this year, she’s just a solid member of the team now. She’s definitely one of those core pieces of the team.” 

Turek was good enough that she played No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles with Katie Phelps last year as a sophomore for the Titans.  

“I had a lot of fun,” she said. “I think playing on a school team definitely improved how I play. Of course, since I was new and I was 5 (seed) it was pretty hard because I was playing against some really tough people. But I had a lot of fun. The girls on the team were really nice, practices were fun.” 

Turek had the opportunity to watch Samantha McEachran, who is McEachran’s daughter and graduated this past June. Samantha McEachran never lost a regular-season match in her time at West Forsyth and she was named Central Piedmont 4-A Player of the Year last year.  

“I liked being able to watch her because she was really good, and watching her serves,” Turek said. “I really enjoyed it and I really enjoyed watching her play, and just learning, and just watching how she hits the ball – serves and stuff like that.” 

With Samantha McEachran graduating after last season, there was some trepidation with Turek and her teammates about what this season would be like.  

“I was honestly a little bit worried because she was like No. 1. She was really good,” Turek said. “And I was a little bit worried because like she was the most skilled out of all of us. But as we started playing this year like I think we’re still doing pretty good. It’s just a little bit hard because she was a really good person to watch.” 

Turek must’ve watched pretty well. 

“Her best shot is her forehand,” Rickert said. “She’s very consistent on that and that’s her go-to shot for sure. And we’re working with her more consistently on the backhand side. But her forehand’s pretty solid. And it’s been her weapon, I guess.” 

Turek’s words have proven to be prophetic. With the scheduled match at Reynolds this past Monday, West Forsyth was scheduled to have closed out the regular season Wednesday at home against East Forsyth. West Forsyth’s lone two wins this season are against Parkland.  

“it’s been a lot of hard work because the girls we’ve been playing, that I’ve been playing, they’re a lot more skilled than me,” Turek said. “They know a lot more. They hit better. But honestly, I’ve really enjoyed this season even if I’m not up to their skill level it’s really good working with people and playing against people who are like very skilled because I feel like that’s an easier way for me to get better is really by just working with people.” 

The coaching staff for the Titans and Turek’s teammates notice that.  

“She’s a hard worker,” Rickert said of Turek. “So, I think that’s what helps her tremendously. She’s not a bad athlete, don’t get me wrong or misunderstand. Yeah, I wouldn’t call her one of those that’s a natural, I can do…” 

Part of learning to play tennis is not just how hard you hit the ball, it’s the nuances and the geometry of the court. And Turek has done all of that, as she said, she doesn’t really watch tennis on TV. 

“I’ve definitely improved on like how I hit the ball,” Turek said. “Definitely my best thing right now is, for me, is where I hit the ball. I feel like I’ve improved so much better on placing the ball and the placement of it, and definitely my serve.” 

West Forsyth, before this week’s scheduled matches against Reynolds and East Forsyth has been outscored 71-28 in sets. Turek has remained at No. 5 singles this season as a junior. 

“It’s definitely a learning experience, and I just feel like it’s good to play even if we aren’t winning,” she said. “But it’s a really good learning experience because you can see and you can play against people who are more advanced than you. So, it’s’ definitely a good learning experience.” 

However, the team has stayed close as next week’s conference tournament looms. 

“Lily’s kind of a key factor in that,” Rickert said of the team’s camaraderie. “I mean, the girls are great. The girls are great. They’re having fun and (that’s) great memories. That’s kind of what sports should be about, as well as the wins and losses. 

Rickert took that to another level. 

“Lily is a big part of that,” he said. “She’s well-liked by everybody and the girls enjoy playing with her. I mean she’s got a great attitude. And she’s just one of those kids that, you know, she doesn’t cause trouble. She’s just pleasant. She’s just been great to have on the team.” 

West Forsyth isn’t the only team she’s a part of. Turek is a host at Cracker Barrel in Clemmons.  

“I like it a lot,” she said. “It can be a little bit stressful sometimes, but I like it.” 

But regardless of what happens next week in the Central Piedmont 4-A tournament, Turek still has all of this school year, plus all of next year as a tennis player and student before graduating from West Forsyth in June 2026. 

“As a tennis player I really just you know want to like try as hard as I can,” she said. “And then, as a student, I really just want to like work hard in school to make sure I earn good grades for my college.”