Sports
MADISON TWP. — At first glance, one wouldn’t expect much out of such a tiny package. Madison High sophomore Rylie Markle is very quiet when she speaks. She’s almost shy and reserved when you talk to her.
But get her on a tennis court and she unleashes “The Beast” within.
Last season, when Markle earned first-team all-Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division honors, the seniors nicknamed her “The Beast,” in reference to her power.
“She’s so little. She’s just so tiny,” Mohawks coach Kathy Anderson said. “You don’t expect the hits she delivers to come from someone like her. It surprises people, just with how much power she has.”
Markle said she’s become an even stronger player. Earlier this season, she played Sally Trout, Milton-Union’s all-time wins leader and used that match as a measuring stick.
“I think I’m more consistent this year, and my shots have gotten a lot stronger,” Markle said. “I can hit the ball even harder now.”
Currently, Markle is 13-2 record and is among the leaders in the SWBL. She’s still working on a kick serve, but she says she’ll have it in her arsenal by next season. She might be wearing the same metallic red-sequined hair band then, a superstitious trinket she wears for every match.
“She plays year round, so when she comes out here she already knows the strategies. I get to just help her, as opposed to teaching her (how to play), which is really nice,” Anderson said. “She hits a lot of baseline shots, but she doesn’t shy away from coming to the net when she sees the chance. And that’s nice to see. It’s usually a couple years before a player develops that kind of confidence where they feel comfortable attacking the net, but she’s already there.”
Markle will close out the regular season against Franklin on Wednesday. Then the SWBL tennis tournament takes place at Thomas Cloud Park in Huber Heights on Thursday, Sept. 30.
She hopes that her performances this season will be enough to earn her a seeding in the Division II sectional tournament.
“Last year I didn’t get a seed in sectionals,” Markle said. “I hope to get seeded this time.”
Alter, Bellbrook, Carlisle, Carroll, Chaminade Julienne, Eaton, Greeneview, Miami Valley, Oakwood, Preble Shawnee, Stivers, Valley View and Waynesville will be in Madison’s sectional this season.
Waynesville senior Alyssa Ritchie won the D-II state singles title last year, and should contend for the title again this time. Markle lost to Ritchie in the SWBL singles title match last season.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.
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