Bishop Carroll’s Brynn Steven living up to family name in pursuit of tennis title
When you carry the last name Steven for Bishop Carroll tennis, pressure to excel is inherent.
The family has been synonymous with tennis success in Wichita for decades and Bishop Carroll junior Brynn Steven is the latest star with the familiar last name.
“I can see how you might think there’s a lot of pressure (coming from the Steven family), but everyone in my family is so supportive that I think it’s a good thing,” Brynn said. “It doesn’t feel like pressure to me because I know either way they’re going to support me. And I always have someone to go and hit with, so I always have someone helping me and I’m so blessed to have that.
Steven wrapped up her second straight City League No. 1 singles championship over the past weekend and has her eyes set on something that no female in her family has accomplished: win a state championship.
With a 21-2 record entering what promises to be the most competitive regional in Class 5A on Saturday at Andover Central, Steven figures to cement her spot at next week’s Kansas high school state tournament, where she will look to be one of the favorites to win the Class 5A title at Andover District Tennis Complex next week.
Carroll has also seen tremendous success from its No. 2 singles slot in freshman Logan Jagolinzer, who has a 27-5 record entering the postseason. Both of Carroll’s doubles team (a pairing of Landry Steven and Ava Keller, as well as a pairing of Heidi Stephen and Chloe Fiechtl) also have a chance to qualify for state, but must advance in the strongest doubles region in 5A this weekend.
“My dad always tells me to treat every single match, whether it’s the first or last of the tournament, like it’s the state finals,” Steven said. “I’ve really taken that and ran with it and it’s helped me out this season. It’s helped me prepare with that mindset and I hope that will help with regionals and state.”
Steven has come close in her first two seasons in high school, advancing to the 5A semifinals both years and losing a third-set heartbreaker to Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Reagan Boleski last fall.
Carroll coach Darren Huslig sees improvement from Steven in her third year, even after she spent most of the summer rehabilitating a back injury that sidelined her for the majority of the offseason.
“Brynn has put in a lot of work and her ground strokes just put a ton of pressure on people,” Huslig said. “She goes so big and she’s very competitive. You know she’s going to bring it and put pressure on you.”
Huslig has coached all of the Steven family, both boys and girls, that have come through the Carroll program over the last two decades. He thinks Brynn has a chance to be one of the best.
“I think everyone in the Wichita area knows that the Steven family is a tennis family,” Huslig said. “We’ve had a run of success here at Carroll because of tennis families that have come through and I think all of those (Steven) kids who have played have ability and really put a lot of work into it and time and effort. Brynn is another one in the line and she’s definitely living up to the family name.”
