Lakeside senior Thea Rice ended her final high school season as the state's undisputed top female tennis player and is The Sentinel-Record's 2017 Tennis Player of the Year.
The Arkansas Razorback commit and blue chip prospect denied all challengers this season on her way to the Class 5A girls' singles state championship and the Arkansas Activities Association's Overall State Singles Tournament title. She is the daughter of Paul and Tracy Webb Rice.
Thea Rice twice reached the precipice of the state's high school tennis singles pinnacle as a sophomore and a junior after winning the 5A doubles championship with Hannah Porter as a freshman in 2014. She said she felt pressure and stress throughout her senior season to realize her goals.
"I love tennis, and I love to play tennis," Rice said. "The challenges in Arkansas have gotten so much better."
The first opponent to deny Rice a state title was her older sister, Tatum Rice. The sisters squared off in both the Class 5A and Overall state finals in 2015, with the elder sibling taking both honors.
Tatum played doubles as a senior, leaving Thea as the clear favorite during her junior year. The doubles team of Tatum Rice and Caroline Zeiser won the Class 5A tournament in 2016 and made it to the semifinals of the Overall tournament.
Illnesses hampered Thea's second quest for a title. Rice won 36 of 37 games in her first three matches in the Class 5A bracket in 2016. She was halted in the final 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 by Hunter Roper, of Valley View, who signed last month to play with Xavier.
Roper withdrew from her opening match this year, and Rice won 6-0, 6-0 against her opponent to advance to the semifinals, where she lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Brooke Killingsworth in the semifinals.
Tatum joined Arkansas in the summer as the state's top tennis recruit and the No. 28 overall in the nation, according to TennisRecruiting.net.
"Having Tatum and Thea over the last six years has been pretty special," said Lakeside tennis coach Shawny Green. "They both have their individual resumes that are impressive, and the fact that they are sisters a year apart makes it that much more impressive, along with the many contributions they have made to the Lakeside tennis team.
"They were a big part -- to say the least -- in the last six team championships, always willing to do what was best for the team. They both had to play doubles on occasion, which helped the team win state, when they could have been selfish in wanting to play singles."
Thea was healthy and in-form for the 5A tournament Oct. 16--17 at the Rebsamen Tennis Center in Little Rock. She won 36 of 38 sets in her first three matches, but would not be denied in the final.
Little Rock Christian's Taylor Shaw took won five games, but Rice won the 5A final 6-1, 6-4. The margin narrowed a week later in the Overall final at Burns Park in Little Rock.
Rice dropped four games in her first two matches to set up a rematch in the final with Shaw. Rice prevailed once again, 6-3, 6-4.
Arkansas women's tennis head coach Michael Hegarty offered Rice a scholarship to play for the Razorbacks as soon as he was allowed under NCAA guidelines in her junior year. She committed so early and remained steadfast, deterring other schools.
"I have always wanted to go to Arkansas," Rice said. "I knew it was always going to be Arkansas. So, I did not entirely pay attention to any other schools."
Rice made it official last month when she signed to play for Arkansas. She is currently listed as a 5-star prospect and No. 43 senior by TennisRecruiting.net.
Being a Razorback is a family tradition. Her grandfather Brooks Rice is a member of the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame
Tracy Webb Rice started at point guard for the Arkansas women's basketball team from 1983--87 and is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor. Thea credited her parents for pushing her and her sister to be their best.
"Her pushing us has gotten me to where I am today," Rice said.
Thea's older brother, Tanner Rice, is also enrolled at the University of Arkansas. Tatum posted a 7-3 record in singles during the fall season and went 8-2 in doubles with her partner, sophomore Jackie Carr. Rice and Carr are currently ranked No. 34 in the national doubles rankings.
"The most impressive thing about these talented girls is they were never the kids that were too good to show up for regular season tennis matches," Green said. "They were always ready to play and contribute. They have definitely dedicated themselves to tennis and worked very hard to earn their Razorback scholarships."
Thea said she started playing tennis at the age of 7 and began to follow behind her sister in tournaments by the age of 9. The sisters began to garner more attention several years ago as they rose through the national rankings.
"We have always been decent, we have always been able to rely on our athletic ability," Rice said. "I got really serious, worked really hard, concentrated and got better."
The family has traveled across the country as the siblings competed in various United States Tennis Association tournaments, which have helped her develop a circle of friends in the sport. She said she spent much of the summer with her best friend, Maggie Cubitt, a 5-star high school junior from South Carolina.
"It is nice because, even without Tatum, I have some of my closest friends who play tennis," Rice said. "When I go to a tournament, it is fun because I get to see them."
Rice said she slowed down in tournament competition this summer because she knew she would sign with Arkansas. She will return to tournament play next month.
The accolades continue to mount
for Rice even as she juggles school and basketball. Rice earned all-conference honors in basketball last season.
Most elite tennis prospects specialize in tennis. She said basketball helps her with many of her skills, including playing in a team dynamic.
"It is pretty rare for someone to play another sport," Rice said. "Most girls we play in national tournaments are home-schooled and play tennis seven hours a day. Meanwhile, I'm over here playing an hour and a half, maybe."
Rice said she is lucky to be able to play at Lakeside and have the Hot Springs Country Club so close. She said her country club coach, Pablo Esner, works with her throughout the year. She said her plan is to begin at Fayetteville in the summer to get to work on the court and in the classroom.
Sports on 12/24/2017