Columbus North doubles player Lizzie Bodart watches her shot in an IHSAA regional tennis match against Jennings County Wednesday at Columbus North.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Lizzie Bodart has been a valuable piece to the Columbus North girls tennis success the past few years.
Bodart has played at both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles over the course of her Bull Dog career, but has settled in nicely at No. 2 doubles with teammate Grace Conner this season. The senior duo will be a key point in helping No. 18-ranked North reach its first state finals berth since 2019 when they take on host Center Grove in the semistate round at noon today.
Bodart began picking up a racket and playing tennis when her parents introduced her to the sport when she was about 3 years old. Although she played basketball when she was younger, tennis turned out to be the sport for Bodart.
“My parents wanted me to put in a sport that I could play the rest of my life,” Bodart said. “I decided to focus on tennis more after my freshman year. I’ve stuck with it since then.”
Bodart has appreciated her family’s support over the years in tennis, even with the busy schedule in the spring. Her father Mike Bodart is the North baseball coach.
“They’ve always supported me,” Lizzie Bodart said. “Whenever my dad has baseball, my mom will always try to be here. We’re very busy, but he’ll always come to my matches whenever he can. My grandparents always come too, so I have a very good support system.”
Columbus North doubles players Grace Conner, left, and Lizzie Bodart high-five after scoring a point in an IHSAA regional tennis match against Jennings County Wednesday at Columbus North.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Bodart started this season at No. 1 doubles until North coach Kendal Hammel found the right pairing for Bodart at No. 2 doubles with Conner.
“Lizzie has really improved a lot. She put some work into it in the offseason. She likes tennis. She enjoys what she does out there,” Hammel said. “Overall, I’ve been playing her at 2 doubles, 1 doubles and I started her out at 1 doubles, and I just I felt like for certain reasons, I needed to move her back down to 2 doubles with her and Grace. I think they’ve done really well together, so I’m really pleased with how she has improved herself in the offseason with hitting the ball and making us a better team.”
Lizzie Bodart
Bodart will attend Marian in the fall and will be studying pediatric nursing. Her interest in nursing piqued when she decided to help out North athletic trainers Kate Cockerham and Chance Newkirk during football season.
“When Kate asked me if I wanted to help her with football, she started introducing me to all of the medicals, and so I knew I wanted to go into something medical, but then I didn’t know if I wanted to do sports medicine,” Bodart said. “I started talking to people that had nursing degrees and all the options you can have with it, so I decided I should take that route because it would be best, and I always love kids and I would like to help them, too.”
Whenever Bodart had time in the winter, she stopped by the athletic training room and helped out occasionally with some simple tasks.
“They taught me a lot of things and it helped me get into nursing and I know I can rely on Kate and Chance if I ever have an injury or anything,” Bodart said. “I know I can always talk to them, so it’s really nice.”
Columbus North doubles player Lizzie Bodart listens as she talks with assistant coach Allie Luken during an IHSAA regional tennis match against Jennings County Wednesday at Columbus North.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Bodart improved her tennis game in the offseason mostly by spending time with clinics at Tipton Lakes Athletic Club. It’s paid off for her. Bodart and the rest of the senior class have won four regionals together, but have been ousted in the semistate round each year. Bodart hopes to make a trip to the state finals her senior year.
“It’s been great playing at North. Kendal has coached me since I was little, so he’s obviously helped me and developed me since I was little,” Bodart said. “Grace and I work really well together. We know what we can do, and we hope to finish it out really well.”
