Although her senior season didn’t go the way she had hoped, Megna Chari was a big contributor to the Columbus East girls tennis team while playing through constant pain.
After playing No. 1 singles as a freshman and sophomore and being part of a state runner-up doubles team with Kathryn Hodzen as a junior, team dynamics caused that doubles team to move back to singles this year. And because of a lingering calf injury, Chari was relegated to playing No. 2 singles as a senior.
But that didn’t stop her from continuing her run of excellence on the tennis court. She posted a 16-3 record and helped the Olympians reach the sectional finals.
Wednesday night, Chari was named this year’s Republic Female Athlete of the Year at The Republic’s Third Annual Bartholomew County Athlete of the Year Gala.
“I think it was hard coming off such a great season last season with Kathryn and going to state,” Chari said. “But I think I made the most of the season, and I had fun with the team, and I still tried to do my best, even with the injury.”
That calf injury, which started during last year’s run to the state doubles finals, hindered Chari’s ability to move early in this season. But by the end of the year, she was moving around much easier on the court.
“In the beginning, it was hard just getting used to not being able to run and still trying to hit the same,” Chari said. “But after a couple of matches and later into the season, I think I got a better, and my calf started to heal later in the season, so I was doing much better toward the end.”
An honor roll student, Chari plans to attend Indiana University and major in neuroscience. She will be on the pre-med track.
For her career, Chari ended with a 49-10 singles record and a 15-1 doubles record. She was The Republic co-Girls Tennis Player of the Year as a junior and an All-Area selection the other three years.
“I’m happy with how my career turned out,” Chari said. “I’m happy with being able to go to the state finals and play with Kathryn. That was a lot of fun.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Republic Female Athletes of the Year:
2017;Cortney VanLiew, Columbus East
2018;Adi Minor, Columbus East
2019;Megna Chari, Columbus East
[sc:pullout-text-end]
