Arlina Shen remembers the last time Blake failed to win a state championship. It was 2014, when Shen was a seventh-grader and Blake played in Class 2A.
"I still use that as motivation," said Shen, Blake's No. 1 singles player.
Now a senior, Shen helped the Bears win their fifth straight Class 1A team title, beating Rochester Lourdes 6-1 in Wednesday's final at Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
With a pedigree like that of Blake, which won its 13th overall title, it would be easy assume the Bears see championships as a matter-of-course endings to a season.
In truth, their string of titles is the result of a confluence of talent, hard work and singular dedication to tennis. During the season, team goals take precedence over all else. It comes from the players themselves, who take over the leadership duties and make sure everyone's priorities are in order.
"It's everything from the little things they do when they get together to 6 a.m. practices, these girls want to win," coach Mike Ach said. "They all got together before the tournament on one court and one of the parents said, 'Can you get any practice with everyone on one court?' I said 'It's not about the tennis. It's about them getting together as a team and doing what they do.' "
One thing they do very well is play tennis. The Bears swept Litchfield in the semifinals and were in control against Lourdes from the outset.
Shen, the defending Class 1A singles champion, said the finality of her long and successful high school career hit home a few weeks ago, when the Bears held their yearly recognition of the seniors.
