Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Brittany Reitz

Steve Virgen

Though her competitive juices had her scowling with intensity,

Corona del Mar High senior Brittany Reitz broke into a smile after

defeating the Palm Desert No. 1 singles player, Robyn Baker.

It was the exclamation point, the emphatic kiss-good-bye to a

memorable career as a Sea King. Her 6-3 victory over Baker ensured CdM of

the CIF Southern Section Division IV title Nov. 20 at the Claremont Club.

“Every time I go out on the court, I go out and make a statement,”

said Reitz, who will attend and play for Purdue University next year. “I

can’t say that (the win over Baker) was a surprise. I was just happy to

help out the team.”Reitz’s teammate, No. 1 singles player Anne Yelsey,

softened up the unfortunate Baker in a tightly contested match. Then

Reitz, playing at No. 3 for the Sea Kings, went in for the attack and

showed no mercy against Baker.

From the outset Reitz grabbed the advantage and broke Baker’s serve.

The CdM senior also held the upper hand in regard to mental strength.

Reitz defeated Baker in a quarterfinal of the 2000 CIF individual

tournament, which Reitz eventually won.

“She has good intensity,” CdM Coach Andy Stewart said of Reitz. “She

moves her feet well. She just wants to win and she has the confidence.

She’s consistent and so strong off the baseline. She moves opponents

around and forces the opponents to make errors and she gobbles them up

from there.”

Reitz said her three victories in the match, especially the one over

Baker, was a sweet way to go out. This season was a bit of bumpy ride for

Reitz, the ninth-ranked player in Southern California 18s, who finished

undefeated, 30-0, for the Sea Kings.

She could not defend her CIF individual title because Pacific Coast

League coaches voted her out of contention because she had not competed

in enough matches with the Sea Kings. Reitz said she was busy with

personal emergencies and recruiting trips, but her commitment to CdM and

her love for her teammates remained. The commitment was the biggest

reason she played throughout the postseason, despite a disagreement with

her own team.

She thought she deserved the chance to at least compete for the Sea

Kings No. 1 singles spot. But the slot was already set and there was no

changing that. Stewart made the decision before the CIF playoffs began.

Reitz, quick to move beyond the past, simply used all the turmoil as

motivation and performed the only way she knows how to perform: with 110%

effort.

“I wanted to do it for the team,” Reitz said. “Winning the CIF title

meant a lot to the girls on the team. By my participation I knew I could

help a lot and that’s why I wanted to play.”

When asked if she had any hard feelings for any of her teammates,

Reitz said, “No,” and, “that’s all behind me now.

“I love all the girls on the team,” she continued. “It’s been an

absolute privilege to play with them and spend time with them on and off

the court. I enjoyed the matches where we pumped each other up, the

positive energy that we were able to circulate during the matches.”

There was positive energy displayed when CdM won the title. Reitz also

recorded two 6-0 victories. And in the semifinal against

Harvard-Westlake, she had the opportunity to play doubles with senior

teammate Brittany Minna. Together they scored three wins to help the Sea

Kings advance.

“There’s no body that I would rather play with than Brittany Minna,”

Reitz said. “Playing with Brittany Minna against Harvard-Westlake, that

is what I liked the most about this season, because she’s my best friend

and I had the time of my life with her on the court.”