Early in the tennis season, La Salle-Peru's coach Aaron Guenther was on a quest to find the perfect lineup combination. His goal was to place the girls and the team in the best possible position for success. In mid-September, Guenther paired seniors Elena Leone and Cali Mickley at No. 1 doubles. Leone expressed her excitement, stating, "I was really looking forward to it because [she] and I are friends outside of tennis, so I was excited to try something new." Mickley, who was Leone's third partner of the season, added, "That was kind of different, but I think we learned to match each other's playing styles really well."
Quick Adjustment and Success
The adjustment period between Leone and Mickley didn't take long as they had been teammates for the past two years and were already close. This close bond translated into on-court success as they went 12-11 and placed third in the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament at No. 1 doubles. They also finished third at the Class 1A Ottawa Sectional, qualifying for state. At the state level, they went 2-2 and ended as a top-32 doubles team. Mickley also achieved second place at No. 1 doubles in the Pekin Invite with Grace Pecchio and was 5-5 in singles, mostly at No. 1. Leone finished second in the Pekin Invite at No. 2 doubles with Izzy Pecchio and was 6-4 in singles, primarily at No. 2.Conference and Sectional Triumphs
Leone and Mickley played a crucial role in helping the Cavs win the conference title and their first sectional championship since 2016. Their combined efforts were remarkable, and for their accomplishments this season, they were named the 2024 NewsTribune Girls Tennis Players of the Year. Leone had won the award last season with former teammate Kaylie Reese. Guenther praised their performance, saying, "I think Elena and Cali did really well, especially considering they didn't start out the year as partners. So they had to adjust to one another on the fly. I think there were some growing pains at the start of their pairing together, but as the season went on, they just got stronger and stronger."Balancing Emotions and Skills
On the court, Leone and Mickley balanced each other well in terms of emotions and skills. Leone is a smart and consistent player, while Mickley is more aggressive and hard-hitting. Guenther emphasized their emotional compatibility, stating, "Elena is very positive and uplifting but needs a more hammer-like player on the other side. Elena is very smart with where she goes with the ball but doesn't necessarily hit the ball hard. On the other side, Cali does hit the ball hard but sometimes needs help reining in her emotions because she does get so excited and she does get so intense that Elena is able to be there to kind of ground her. So they worked really well together as a pair to balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses."State Performance and Offseason Work
Leone and Mickley showcased their strength at state, with Leone saying they "played our best tennis." In the first round, they lost 6-2, 6-1 to Benet's Natalie Grover and Katie Jendra, who went on to place fourth. However, they bounced back and won their next two matches in three sets. Mickley reflected on the experience, saying, "I think we performed very well considering our first match we played a team that got fourth in state. I thought we hung with them very well. That momentum helped us through the rest of the day to win two matches. It was definitely very stressful, but it was also very fun and just a great experience." Both players put in work in the offseason to make their state run possible. Leone took lessons at Evergreen in Bloomington and learned to be a more consistent player with better form. Mickley went to lessons at Quad City Tennis Club and competed in United States Tennis Association tournaments. She said, "After my sophomore season, I realized how successful I could be and I wanted to continue to get better and play at the next level. I put in a lot of hard work going to USTA tournaments and going to lessons. My game improved a lot, and I improved mentally as well."Mickley will continue playing tennis at Trine University, an NCAA Division III school in Agnola, Indiana. She expressed her gratitude, saying, "It means a lot to me that I get the opportunity to play at the next level. I could not have done it without God as well as all the time and hard work I have put into my training." Leone plans to attend a larger university and won't be playing tennis. She was happy with her high school career, saying, "I'm really happy with [my high school career]. I feel like I ended on a great note. I wouldn't want to go out any other way."
