Delano steps up to first girls' tennis state meet

After 16 years, Kim Finn deserves the opportunity to shed a tear or two.

The Delano girls' tennis coach has built a consistent winner in her time at the school. Under Finn, the Tigers have won numerous Wright County Conference titles, made a successful transition from Class 1A to 2A and sent five doubles teams to the Class 2A state tournament. Her now graduated daughters, Laura and Cassy, were consolation champions in 2012.

But Delano had never before accomplished what it did in the recently completed Class 2A, Section 5 team tournament. The Tigers defeated Wayzata 5-2 in the finals to advance to the state tournament for the first time in team history.

"We used to be in Section 2, which has teams like Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, and we were never quite good enough," Finn said. "This season, we got moved to Section 5, so I knew we had a chance to do this."

Five days after the team's feat, junior Ginger Valentine became the Tigers' first section singles champion, defeating Armstrong's Nicole Snezhko 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.

"I was pretty nervous," Valentine said. "But once I got the lead, I settled down."

The reason for Finn's confidence was twofold. The Tigers, with juniors in eight of the top nine spots, are an experienced crew.

The other reason for her outlook was work ethic. Finn said most of the team practiced together all summer, playing as much as six to eight hours a day.

"These girls have wanted this for such along time," she said. "They pushed themselves to get better."

After the Tigers won the team championship, Finn's oldest daughter, Laura, contacted her from London, where she's studying abroad.

"She asked me if it's OK to be kind of jealous," Finn said. "I said yes. It's such a big deal, it makes me want to cry every time I think about it."