By Lindsey Boyd
Time is an inevitable element of life that brings first hellos and last goodbyes.
For seniors Marine Dans, Marie Klocker and Gaelle Rey, they said so long to their home countries of Belgium, France and Switzerland respectively four years ago, and hello to the tennis courts of California. Although they didn’t all start Spartans, they all ended Spartans.
Like atoms chained to form a molecule, each player formed an inseparable bond with their teammates. The bond only grew the more they played and the more wins they earned — Only time could break this bond.
“I am sad to leave but it has to be done,” Klocker said when reflecting back on her four year journey at SJSU. “I cannot stay forever, right?”
Klocker will return to her home country of France where she wants to continue her tennis career. With 138 career wins—an SJSU record, Klocker has definitely left her mark. Not to mention, she’s been named All-Mountain West Player seven (maybe eight), times and was ranked nationally in doubles.
“They are great representatives of our school San José State University,” said head coach Chad Skorupka of the seniors. “I know our administrators like us because they don’t get any calls in the middle of the night…besides Gaelle [Rey] being at Jack in the Box at two o’clock in the morning.”
For Rey, senior day served (no pun intended) as a motivation pushing her to perform her best. She wanted to be sure to leave her home court with one final victory.
“Since it was senior day I really wanted to win,” Rey said.
Dans was also filled with bittersweet emotion but was mostly anxious to play.
“Maybe doubles there was a little pressure,” Dans said after her match with Rey went unfinished. “I don’t know why — maybe because it was the last home game.”
After all teams won in doubles play, the seniors were commemorated in a ceremony filled with family, friends, pizza and pictures. The celebration alleviated some stress off of the seniors before they headed into their last singles matches.
“The ceremony made me feel good about myself and really happy,” Dans said. “Happy to be here to show people what we can do — what I can do.”
At the end of the victorious 7-0 match, Skorupka had his own way of celebrating the sweet win—by putting a little cake on Klocker’s face.
“I knew before the match that I was going to do that to Marie … I let her get me back,” Skorupka said after wiping frosting off of his face.
For Skorupka, a win for the last home game of the season was great way to send off the seniors at home. But, the team isn’t done yet.
“We want to finish out with something very special … the second team Mountain West Championship for San Jose State University,” Skorupka said.
The team will head to the Mountain West Championship in Las Vegas which begins Thursday Apr. 27. They are positioned at the No. three seed and have received a first round bye.