Makenzie Eichelkraut signs with Lady Eagles Tennis

Ottawa Township High School senior Makenzie Eichelkraut has signed with Illinois Valley Community College to play doubles on the Lady Eagles tennis squad.

Eichelkraut anchored the Pirates team three of her four years on campus, as a No.1 singles player her sophomore year and later as a conference-ranked doubles player. She sat out freshman year with an injury.

“I love to play doubles! It takes more strategy. You learn to trust your partner and to outsmart your opponents,” Eichelkraut said.

Her move to the Lady Eagles reunites Eichelkraut with 2023 OTHS grad Emma Walker, who as a No. 1 singles player for the Lady Eagles finished 4th in the region. Eichelkraut credits Walker’s support for launching her move here.

IVCC offers great training opportunities, Walker said. “It’s a smaller program, and you spend more time with a coach who is able to understand your weaknesses and strengths.” It’s important, too, that the team is close-knit and players are very supportive of one another, Walker said.

Eichelkraut is the daughter of Donna Eichelkraut. She plans to study environmental sciences.