Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, Jun. 13, 2009

ALL-COUNTY TENNIS: Benner, Toronchuk wrap up successful careers at Lynden

Senioritis really starts to kick in right around the spring sports season.

And there was no exception for Lynden seniors Jill Toronchuk and Brandi Benner.

But while their peers were grinding out the last couple months of school, Benner and Toronchuk were breezing through the girls' tennis season as the Lions' No. 1 doubles team.

The two seniors capped a successful senior year - and career at Lynden High School - by winning the Northwest District title for the third year and repeating as Class 2A state doubles champions. And for the second straight year The Bellingham Herald has selected the talented duo the All-Whatcom County Girls' Tennis Players of the Year.

"(Senioritis) is normal with the time of the year," Toronchuk said in a phone interview. "We had an awesome year with basketball and tennis. We always go into it looking forward to it (tennis season). It's a fun and relaxing sport for us. It's not as intense, and there's not as much pressure."

All season Toronchuk and Benner were the team to beat as defending state champs, but they never faltered and finished the year 23-0 after they defeated Squalicum's Andrea d'Aquino and Anne d'Aquino for the state championship.

The state title comes just months after the two led the girls' basketball team to its first state title, and six months after the pair helped the volleyball team to a third-place finish at state.

"A lot of times too many kids are specialized in sports rather than playing three sports," Lynden tennis coach Trey Ballard said. "I'm a firm believer that it creates better athletes. They are very focused on each season and being the best they can be in all of them."

While Toronchuk and Benner received numerous awards and accolades and even had some success at the state level in other sports, it is tennis where the duo really made its mark.

"They did more damage in tennis than any other sport," Ballard said. "It's hard as seniors when they get senioritis in the spring, but those girls were focused all the way through."

Benner and Toronchuk, who were All-Northwest Conference first team selections, have athletic futures beyond high school. Benner is headed to Skagit Valley Community College to play basketball, and Toronchuk has committed to play volleyball at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Benner also plans to continue her tennis career at Skagit.

"I want to play for fun, because I know I'll miss it so much," Benner said.

But if she plays doubles she'll do so with a different partner.

"Not having her (Toronchuk) by my side is going to be a lot different," Benner said.

Benner and Toronchuk played sports season after sports season together, and this year's state tennis tournament marked an end to a long and successful career together.

"It is definitely really sad," Toronchuk said. "It hasn't really fully hit me yet. After a year of not playing together it will hit me harder. We've had so much fun together. We're both excited for our futures, and I know we'll stay in contact. I'm sure we'll play tennis whenever we get together."