Mae Lorentz is playing No. 1 doubles with her childhood best friend and Anadarko High School teammate, Carsyn Kaulaity, this spring.
“I’m also involved in Native American Indian Club, Drama Club and Student Council,” Lorentz said.
Lorentz picked up the sport of tennis her freshman year.
“My past coach, coach Davis, asked me to come try it out, and I also had friends and my sister that played that told me I should join to try something new. I also previously played basketball,” Lorentz said.
Her tennis beginnings “pretty rough” by her own admission, but Lorentz refused to quit.
“I didn’t let it get to me and worked hard so I could play on varsity with my best friend when my first season started,” Lorentz said.
Lorentz and Kaulaity have been friends since they were 5 years old. They bond over tennis and their native american heritage.
“Me and Carsyn just get each other, so it’s really easy for us to communicate and know what the other is going to do during the match,” Lorentz said. “It also makes it much more fun playing with someone you can joke with and how we are able to uplift each other when in the crucial moments of a match such as tiebreakers.”
Lorentz is a citizen of the Wichita and Delaware tribes.
“My heritage is important to me because it’s how I’ve grown up and I love being apart of my Wichita and Delaware tribes,” Lorentz said. “I just want to make my tribes proud and set an example for other native kids and athletes.”
This year, Lorentz wants to see herself and her teammate playing on the final weekend of the year.
“My goals for this season have been to play as best as I can, try to get top 5 at tournaments and work my way to making it to state this year,” Lorentz said. “I think it’s going to take putting a lot of work in at practice, staying consistent and believing in myself and my doubles partner.”
Family is another important aspect of Lorentz’s tennis experience. Her younger sister, Khalaya, also plays for the Warriors.
“I also love being able to watch my sister play in between my matches,” Lorentz said. “Me and her are very close, so during tournaments when I finish early, me and my partner will go support and encourage her!”
