Tennis frosh in win over Hun
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nicole Keim is facing a tough choice this spring.
She has to decide between playing softball or lacrosse for Princeton Day School or joining the Mercer Junior Rowing Club.
It was much easier for the PDS freshman this fall. The chance to join the girls’ tennis team was one reason that Keim chose to matriculate to PDS, though she wasn’t always such a fan of the sport.
”I wasn’t too keen on it in the beginning,” Keim said. “It was kind of a just-for-fun thing. Once I started playing tournaments, it got bigger. It got way more exciting.”
Keim still enjoys a challenge on the courts, which is why the Panthers’ third singles player enjoyed helping her team knock off The Hun School, 4-1, Tuesday. It was PDS’ second straight win over Hun since 2001, which wasn’t long after Keim was just taking up the game of tennis.
”We were really, really happy about this win,” said Keim, a West Windsor resident. “It’s kind of a big thing for us.”
Keim also helped the Panthers top Hun for second place at the Mercer County Tournament with a win over the Raiders’ third singles player. Keim finished third at the MCT and was pleased that she also took the rematch with Natalia Arenales.
”I felt she was playing better than when I played her in the tournament,” Keim said. “The thing that gave me the edge today, on that (MCT) day, she seemed to be warmed up and I was tired. Today, I just had that match.”
Keim has lost just twice this season in her first 11 matches, once to unbeaten Lawrenceville and once to eventual MCT champion Lesley Norris of WW-P South. She has fit in perfectly behind PDS’ first singles Samantha Lieb and second singles’ Lauren Constantini.
”It’s always a nice thing to know you have a player who can deliver the goods,” said PDS head coach Patty Headley, whose team is 5-2. “Nobody knows anything for sure. All the schools have good players and on any given day it could change. She gets in there and gets the job done. She has a positive attitude. It’s always easy to be upbeat when you win, but she was fine the one time when she didn’t because she played well. For someone that young, that’s impressive.”
Said Keim: “I definitely like an opponent that can give me a good workout. If I don’t beat them, I want to know I myself did the best I could do and tried my best.”
Keim has started her first year of varsity play quickly. It continues when the Panthers take on Stuart Country Day today. Keim attended Stuart for 12 years, but is hoping to keep her season and the Panthers’ year going well against a local and Prep B state rival.
”I’d like to not lose any more matches,” Keim said. “I want PDS of course to win Prep B. And I just want to keep up how I’m doing. I’m really happy with my scores so far. I hope they’re all like that.
”I’m also very happy with the coaching this year,” she added. “It’s very supportive and very nice. Both of our coaches support us and try to make our seasons fun and successful.”
Keim has made a seamless transition to high school tennis and has been steady at third singles for the Panthers.
”She is mature beyond her years,” Headley said. “She’s mentally tough. She’s supremely physically fit. One of the many things that impressed me was she came to a new school and became a part of the team at a very early time. She did a great job.”
Keim attributes her early success to the experience she gained through the years since she started playing tennis. While she also did everything from ballet to gymnastics to swimming and lacrosse and softball, she also continued to get more involved in tournament tennis. It is paying off now.
”For the most part, the kids at No. 3 are usually strong players,” Keim said. “I have a lot of experience from having matches in USTA tournaments on the weekend. I played 10 times more matches than anyone else at my spot has.”
Despite her successful start, Keim isn’t satisfied. She continues to develop her game, just as she did in preparing for her first year of high school tennis.
”I wanted to strengthen have all my shots,” Keim said. “I did not want to be afraid to hit one shot — the forehand, backhand or volley. I wanted them all on the same level and be able to hit them with confidence. And I’m always working on footwork.”
That drive is why the Panthers are excited about their future — both at this year’s Prep B state tournament and beyond — with Nicole Keim on the team.
”Nicole, on any other team, could play No. 2 or No. 1,” Headley said. “We do have a really strong team. I’m looking forward to the next three years after this because Nicole is going to get better and better. That’s her nature. She’s focused and she has a lot of purpose.”

