Their careers were born in success, but the three seniors on the Notre Dame Prep girls tennis team hope their legacy is much more than just wins and loses

“For us, it’s not so much about winning, but we want the team to be as close as possible,” senior Grace Hogan said. “We want to be really inclusive to everyone.”

Hogan and her fellow seniors, Natalie Hoffman and Rachel Sodhi, were all part of the Saints team that captured the Division II state championship in 2016. They were just freshmen that year, but the victory foreshadowed the success that all three would enjoy while at Notre Dame.

This trio has never lost a regular season team match. Their career regular season record is 49-0, including the fives wins they’ve picked up so far this season. Their only two losses have come in the state playoffs the past two seasons.

Rather than remain complacent with the success though, they have used the memory of that championship to fuel their drive to capture another one.

Senior Natalie Hoffman anchors the middle of the Saints' singles lineup. She has been a varsity player each of her four years at Notre Dame. She was the only current Notre Dame senior to play in the state championship match in 2016. (Photo: Sarah Farrell/AZPreps365)Hoffman was the only one of the three to actually compete in the 2016 championship match. Because they did not play in 2016, Hogan and Sodhi have been inspired to work even harder to get back.

“Just seeing how happy all of them were, and how much it meant to them to be a part of that, made both of us want to work harder to be able to do that,” Hogan said.

One thing is for sure, that freshman season had a lasting impact on this group of seniors in more ways than one. Not only did they experience the satisfaction and pride that comes from winning a state title. They also had a group of seniors to look up to and learn from.

There were five seniors on the Saints’ squad in 2016 – Sydney Bettis, Alyssa Heid, Madeline Pagnillo, Alicia Rodriguez and Cara Thompson – and they had a huge influence on their younger teammates.

“It definitely leaves a lasting memory on the underclassmen, I think,” Sodhi said, “if the seniors are really kind of passionate about making a lasting legacy on the team, which those five seniors definitely did.”

Senior Rachel Sodhi describes the Notre Dame team as a family. “[Tennis] doesn’t have to be competition all the time. It’s just a time where you can get all of the day’s frustrations out,” she said. (Photo: Sarah Farrell/AZPreps365)

Sodhi described those five as “big sisters to us during that season.” And Hogan added that the seniors really made them feel like part of the team even though they were just freshman.

Saints head coach Shelley Dinges can see the impact that the seniors of 2016 had on today's seniors.

“They loved those senior leaders. They looked up to them. Those senior leaders made them feel special. And they were great players at the same time,” Dinges said. “[The 2016 seniors] just went out there and played, and they played with passion. And they really instilled that in our players.”

For Grace Hogan and the other Saints seniors, this season is about a lot more than just winning. They want to help bring the team together and make everyone feel like they’re included. (Photo: Sarah Farrell/AZPreps365)

Hogan, Hoffman and Sodhi saw firsthand the kind of leadership and commitment it takes to win a state title. Now, as seniors themselves, they take every opportunity to model that behavior.

Not only do they help organize the annual team retreat, but they’ve also gone above and beyond to incorporate team-building activities whenever they can. Dinges described them organizing team jeopardy during rain delays, and watching a teammate’s match after they play their own. They don’t leave, they’re not on their phones; they’re genuinely invested in their teammates’ success, she said.

While the goal this season is to win a state championship, this year’s seniors hope their legacy extends beyond the court.

“I really hope that [the underclassmen] kind of see how important it is to connect as a team,” Hoffman said.

They want the underclassman to feel like this is more than team, but a family. And Dinges believes that they have accomplished that.

“I’ve heard many of the girls already say, ‘This is a special team. It’s great to be a part of this team,’”Dinges said. “You can have great leaders, but people have to believe in those leaders. And I think what we have right now is the full thing where [the underclassmen] truly believe in them.”

According to Dinges, this team has become closer faster than in past years. She usually points to the team retreat as a time when the connections and bonds on the team really form. They haven’t even had the retreat yet this year, and already she can tell everyone from the freshman to the seniors feel included.

“They’re a family, and that stems from the seniors,” Dinges said.

While none of the seniors plan to continue their tennis careers playing NCAA tennis, Hogan, Hoffman and Sodhi hope that they can build on their experiences of the past four years to create a truly special team at Notre Dame this season.