Taylor Edmondson knew the competition was going to get significantly tougher this season. The Cony High School senior would play at No. 1 singles for the girls tennis team this spring, putting in jeopardy her run of perfection.

Edmondson didn’t lose a regular season match during her sophomore and junior seasons.

“I wanted to do my best,” she said. “I wasn’t really going for another undefeated season. I wanted to take it easy and do what I could do. I didn’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

It wasn’t, but Edmondson still turned in a terrific season. She finished 8-4 against some of the top competition in Class A, and reached the Round of 48 for the second consecutive season.

For her performance this spring, Edmondson is the Kennebec Journal Girls Tennis Player of the Year.

“The players were a lot more challenging,” Edmondson said. “The serves were a lot harder. That was a big adjustment.”

Edmondson opened the Round of 48 against Grace Robbins of Mount Desert Island. Edmondson extended her run with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“That was pretty tough,” Edmondson said. “It was a good match.”

Next up, Edmondson faced No. 2 seed Annie Criscione of state power Falmouth.

Criscione cruised, 6-1, 6-0.

“I wanted to play my best and put up a good fight,” Edmondson said. “She was a great player.”

Edmondson also helped the Rams reach the Eastern A semifinals.

Cony defeated Mt. Blue 4-1 in the quarterfinals, with Edmondson scoring a key 6-0, 6-2 win over Abby Flanagan.

“It was a good season,” Edmondson said. “We put in a lot of work.”

Indeed.

Edmondson said she worked hard in the offseason to improve her serve and backhand. She participated in a summer training camp put on by Winthrop coach Wilbur Shardlow.

“I had some things I wanted to work on,” Edmondson said. “I took some lessons from Wilbur and the work definitely paid off. I feel like I can really place my shots.

Shardlow said one of Edmondson’s strengths is her ability to never beat herself.

“She is ultra-consistent,” he said. “She has great hand control. She really uses her ability to control the ball. I wouldn’t call her flashy, but she is what every tennis player wants to be: Consistent. She will make you beat her.”

Edmondson plans to enroll at Husson University in the fall, where she hopes to play on the school’s new club tennis team.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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