Emma Bush

LAPEL—As the team’s lone returning senior with varsity experience, Lapel’s Emma Bush is in a position of leadership for a team with high expectations. But her fierce forehand is in contrast to her soft-spoken personality, meaning she has to step out of her comfort zone to be a vocal leader.

But she is into new adventures, so she’ll give it a go.

Bush competed on the number two doubles team for Lapel a year ago and, along with her partner, junior Tonya Riffey, was part of the Lapel sectional champion team. With two seniors departed from that team, her coach says Bush could reprise her role as a doubles player or possibly play singles. Bush is comfortable with either role, but values her partnership with Riffey.

“I really enjoy playing with her,” Bush said. “I feel like we paired well, we were able to figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses throughout the season.”

Bush and Riffey were 14-6 last year for the Bulldogs, who were 19-4 overall. But there was one thing missing from the team’s accomplishments, a county championship. Lapel fell to Alexandria in the title match 3-2 and Bush says winning the school’s first every girls’ county tennis title is a large part of her goals for this, her final season with the Bulldogs.

“That would be really amazing (to win) county coming up and sectional at the end of the year,” she said with a grin.

Although the bulk of Lapel’s strength as a team resides in its junior class, Bush finds that the younger teammates look up to her for leadership.

“Yeah, I think it helps being a senior,” she said. “You have to step into those shoes and take the lead.”

Bush recently signed to continue her athletic and academic career at Olivet Nazarene, located in the village of Bourbonnais, Illinois. Her faith is very important to Bush, who sees herself playing tennis for a higher power.

“It has definitely played a role in my life,” Bush said. “Whatever I do, it’s not for me, I do it for God. That helps me focus.”

A fan of indie music and coffee of all kinds, Bush sees herself as an adventure seeker. She enjoyed the Lapel senior trip to Europe earlier this year and has another trip she’d like to take above any other. And it isn’t necessarily a place most would guess.

“Backpacking through Iceland would be really neat,” she said. “The pictures I’ve seen, it looks really beautiful.”