Chelsea Ripley has been named the Medomak Valley girls varsity tennis coach. Ripley was the captain of the Panthers tennis team during her senior year in 2017, when this photo was taken. (Paula Roberts photo, LCN file)
The Medomak Valley High School tennis program did not have to look far to find its next girls tennis coach. The school has hired 2017 graduate Chelsea Ripley to head up the squad this season. Ripley is a former captain of the Panthers girls tennis team, and the three sport Panther athlete was also a captain of the girls basketball and soccer teams.
Ripley is already in her third year coaching sports in RSU40. She coached the seventh grade girls basketball team at Medomak Middle School for two years, and then moved up to the high school junior varsity team this year. She also coaches the seventh and eighth grade girls travel team.
“I started coaching back in high school helping with peewee basketball, and that’s when I caught the coaching bug,” said Ripley. “I also helped coach a few AAU teams while I was in college (at Husson University). The goal was always to come back and coach at Medomak, so I’m really thankful to be able to do that now with both basketball and tennis.”
Ripley said she was not really interested in softball growing up, and began playing tennis after a couple friends on the team at Medomak Valley encouraged her to give it a try.
“I ended up really enjoying it, and I still play tennis today,” said Ripley. “I always tell people how glad I am that I decided to try it—my only regret is not starting sooner.”
Ripley, who was born and raised in Warren and returned to her hometown to reside after college said being named the head coach for a varsity sport at MVHS means a lot.
“I’ve loved sports my whole life, so being able to still be a part of them is really special to me in my adulthood,” said Ripley. “My favorite part of coaching at Medomak is giving back to the community that raised me, and just having the chance to stay involved in something I care so much about.”
Ripley will have big shoes to fill after previous coach Dara Economy was named the Class B KVAC Coach of the Year last spring before moving out of the state during the offseason, which led to the head coach vacancy. Economy guided the Panthers to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the Class B South semifinals.
Chelsea Ripley has been named the Medomak Valley girls tennis coach. Ripley served as the Panthers junior varsity girls basketball coach this winter, and can be seen in this photo monitoring the action closley on the sideline during a Medomak game against Lincoln Academy. (Mic LeBel photo, LCN file)
Although Ripley has not coached tennis before, she is optimistic that her experience playing tennis for the Panthers and her prior coaching roles will help her team be successful on the tennis court this season.
“Since tennis is new for me as a coach, one of my personal goals is to keep learning the sport in ways that can help the girls improve every day,” said Ripley. “For the team, of course I’d love to win matches and make a deep playoff run, but my main goal is the same as it is in basketball: to help them grow as players and, more importantly, teach them life lessons they can carry with them beyond sports.”
Ripley said she takes the mentorship aspect of coaching to heart.
“I’m really passionate about coaching and want to help my players improve, but I also want to be someone they can look up to,” she said. “Some of the most influential people in my life growing up were my coaches, and if I can be that kind of person for these athletes, that means a lot to me.”
Her coaching philosophy is simple, Ripley said.
“Just get one day better every time you step on the court,” said Ripley. “Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process. I just expect consistent effort toward getting better.”
Don’t expect Ripley to be yelling and shouting as she coaches, that is not her style. “One of my former players once described me as quiet but forceful, and I think that’s pretty accurate,” she said.
Ripley does not have an assistant coach, but was quick to recognize the help that she has already received at Medomak.
“Ryan McNelly has been a huge help as I transition into a varsity coaching role,” said Ripley of her former basketball coach at Medomak, and the current Panthers volleyball coach. “Even though he doesn’t have a tennis background, Ryan has a lot of experience as a coach and has already been someone I can go to for advice.”
The girls tennis team opens the regular season with a match at Winslow on Thursday, April 16.
