Tennis super-star, Cassandra Lee '20, shattered the all-time record of 110 wins in the first week of her senior season. Going into the season, Cassandra had an unbelievable record of 107- 8. She ended her senior year with an astounding record of 129 wins and 11 losses! 

It was a historic season for the Timothy Christian Girls Tennis Team. A record number of 26 players joined the tennis team and they captured the Conference title and the IHSA 1A Girls Sectional Championship. 

“There was no State tourney, unfortunately, this year,” Coach Keith Mills said. “Timothy would have had a shot at a trophy. The varsity and JV squads may have been the best in Timothy history.”

Had State happened, all eyes would have been on super-star Cassandra Lee. She’s qualified for state four times in her high school career. The pressure at that level of competition is intense. In fact, losing State as a freshman is a hurdle she is still overcoming. 

“I felt like a disappointment to Timothy because I was supposed to win this whole thing,” she says. “I wonder— because I've lost state—I wonder if I would have worked as hard. It was a driving force for me to work for these next couple of years.”

Her tennis career at Timothy is nothing short of amazing, but it’s her work ethic that people will remember. “It’s funny, I could have so much homework or anything after my tennis practice, but I will always make sure that I spend at least an hour in the gym, because it's so helpful,” Cassandra says.  

For some athletes it can feel like a battle between focusing on school and keeping up with training. Cassandra found tennis creates a structure that provides support for the rest of her life. “I've definitely learned that if I'm playing tennis and if I'm working out and I'm doing all these activities, my grades will improve and my everything will improve,” she says. 

Of all of Cassandra’s achievements, the one she is most proud of is winning a match with her sister Crystina, a freshman. “The match was difficult and we lost two games,” Cassandra explains. “But Crystina didn’t let it get to her head and we won pretty easily after that.”

If you’ve ever watched any sport before a game there is usually a ritual that the team does to build energy and hype themselves up. But for Cassandra it’s a moment of calm. “Every time before I begin playing I will go back to the fence, and I'll say a couple of things. 1 Peter 5:7 and Exodus 14:14 and then I will just like take a bunch of deep breaths just to connect everything.” 

To Cassandra being a Christian and showing God’s love is a constant on or off the court. “It hit me when I was a sophomore that I have the word Christian on my jersey,” Cassandra says. “I have to live up to this. I want my opponents to know that I’m a Christian.” 

Cassandra’s tennis career is just beginning. She plans to play in college. But she has left her mark on the Timothy tennis program. “The Timothy coaches are so special and deserve all the recognition in the world!” Cassandra gushes. “I also have the best teammates in the world. They would always come to support me, help me have a good time, and just make my four years of high school tennis something to remember. They really do make you feel so loved and important at Timothy and I know for a fact you do not just find that anywhere.”

Tennis Achievements

Conference Champions 
IHSA 1A Girl’s Sectional Championship

All-State: Cassandra Lee (Senior), Crystina Lee & Clarissa Chen (Freshmen)

Sectional Champion Singles: Cassandra Lee (Senior)
Sectional Champion Doubles: Crystina Lee & Clarissa Chen (Freshmen)

All Conference:

Cassandra Lee
Crystina Lee
Clarissa Chen
Sara Carstensen
Georgia Wells
Alexa Yelenosky
Maddie Drye
Bella Tornabene