Shoemaker faces pressure of No. 1
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The pressure of playing first singles is nothing compared to what Kara Shoemaker expects of herself.
”It’s mostly pressure I put on myself,” said the Hun School junior. “I think it’s helpful. I definitely think it’s motivating. It’s self-motivation.”
Shoemaker actually is finding it a little easier going in her second year at the first singles slot for the Raider girls’ tennis team. She is 7-1, and had won the first set against Bridgewater-Raritan’s Monica Castle on Wednesday before rain cancelled the conclusion of the remainder of their match. Hun is still unbeaten at 4-0 as it heads into a key Mid-Atlantic Prep League matchup against Lawrenceville on Saturday.
”I think that everyone has been doing a really great job,” Shoemaker said. “Considering the fact we have two new girls on the team, so far we’ve been doing great.”
The two new girls have slipped in nicely behind Shoemaker to strengthen the Hun singles lineup. Second singles’ Beatrice Falk is a native of Sweden who spent the last three years in Japan. Third singles’ Natalia Arenales is from Madrid. Already the Raiders have T-shirts with Spanish phrases on them. Swedish hats can’t be far behind.
”The fun is just hanging out with the girls on the team,” Shoemaker said. “It takes a lot of the pressure off.”
Shoemaker is getting better at handling it. She was 16-4 last year in her first season at first singles after playing third singles as a freshman.
”It seems to be a little bit easier this year,” said Shoemaker, who lives in Princeton. “Last year, I wasn’t adjusted to moving from third to first. This year, I’ve been a little calmer.
”I think I was nervous moving into the first spot. I felt like there was a lot of pressure. It’s not as much as last year, especially because I’m playing a lot of the same people I played last year.”
She is no stranger to high goals for herself. Off the tennis court, she is the same way and her competitive streak helps her in both the classroom and on the court.
”She wants to win against everybody,” said Raiders head coach Joan Nuse, who teaches seventh and eighth grade history at Hun. “She’s like that in school too. She’s one of the best students I’ve ever had. She’s really competitive with academics as well.
”Being a highly intelligent person helps too,” she added. “She can analyze what’s going on and what she needs to do.”
Shoemaker is better equipped to handle the pressures of playing high level tennis now. She started playing at a young age, and even then placed high expectations on herself.
”My parents told me when I played my first tournament, I was shaking when I walked out on the court,” Shoemaker said. “They said they could see me shaking. I think I’ve always been like that.”
She was 10 at the time. Shoemaker has come along to develop into a top-flight player for the Raiders. She finished second at this year’s Mercer County Tournament, her toughest competition to date this season. She suffered her first loss the season to Samantha Lieb in the final.
”I was really happy with how I did in the county tournament,” Shoemaker said. “I have to play (Lawrenceville’s) Emma Levy on Saturday. Obviously that will be a tough match. Next Tuesday, I have to play Sammy again. So obviously there are still some tough matches left.”
The last time Shoemaker played Levy it was for the Prep A state title at first singles. Shoemaker is approaching Saturday’s rematch as a challenge.
”I try to look at every match the same,” she said. “Otherwise, I’ll make myself too nervous.”
So far this season, Shoemaker has been nothing but a calm winner for the Raiders in the regular season. It is just what Hun was looking for at the top of its lineup.
”I definitely think it’s advantageous to have gone through that first year at first singles,” Nuse said. “She was comfortable and confident that first year, and she’s more so this year. She’s leading the team from first singles.”
Shoemaker played her first tournament at 10, and hasn’t stopped challenging herself to improve since then. She played a full schedule of summer tournaments, including the Clay Court Championships for teens. It’s paying off with a more aggressive approach.
Said Nuse: “She’s really developed an all-around game. As a freshman, she was much happier on the baseline and didn’t venture to the net unless she needed to. She’s really developed her net game from playing the doubles we have to play. She’s comfortable in all areas of the court.”
As a freshman, Shoemaker was the odd player out when Hun played its MAPL doubles matches. Her competitive side came through as she was determined to fit in the doubles lineup last year.
”She worked hard on her doubles,” Nuse said. “When she and Beatrice were playing against Mercersburg, you would not have known they had not played together. She was good about helping Beatrice on the court.”
Added Shoemaker: “I really like playing with her. We seem to play well together. That’ll be interesting to see how that works on Saturday against Lawrenceville.”
It’s another challenge that Shoemaker is looking forward to. The pressure isn’t quite as great as it could be, thanks to having a strong team behind her.
”It’s obviously nice to be undefeated right now,” Shoemaker said. “Everyone has been playing well. We seemed to click as a team. I think that helped.”

