WASHINGTON —
Stacey Latovia wasn’t your typical Russian tennis phenom, In fact, she wasn’t even Russian — and her name wasn’t really Latovia. But that name still makes North Daviess senior tennis player Stacey Beard smile.
About a decade ago, Tony Steele, the late North Daviess tennis coach, gave each member of a group of elementary-aged tennis players Russian nicknames when they would come work with him — he also gave a lot of them a love of tennis.
Fast forward to next fall and Stacey “Latovia” Beard will be playing college tennis at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.
The last of Steele’s “Russians” has made quite a name for herself during her career as a Lady Cougar and looks to continue in the future.
She said she has been playing since the second grade and that early time with Steele is what sparked her interest.
This year, she is currently 7-0, after having gone 19-1 last year, where along with being the Times Herald Player of the Year, she was IHSAA Individual Sectional champion for the second straight season.
“I would love to go to the state finals, but I don’t feel the pressure this year,” said Beard. “I’m really just trying to have fun.”
Beard has been a tireless worker, often making several trips a week to Bloomington to get better, along with being involved in 4-H and helping with her family farm.
“She hates to lose,” said ND coach Lucas Calhoun, who is now in his third year of coaching Stacey. “She has earned every bit of this, because she is a worker. She may have been late for practice like one time, and that was because she was working on the family farm that day.
“When she decided to commit to tennis and give up volleyball, she would work at a clinic in Bloomington and then we would play for two hours afterward. She did that all winter. That is the kind of dedication she has.”
As good as Beard is an individual player, Calhoun also says she is a great teammate.
“She is so willing to work with other players. So many other players of her ability do not lend themselves to having other players learn from them. She is just the opposite, she will work and encourage anyone,” said Calhoun. “She really is an ambassador for the game. She never tries to separate herself from the team.”
Beard said that after winning the sectional title two years in a row and being in the individual sectional finals as a freshman, she did draw some attention from local colleges, but she said that USF found out about her on a web site.
“I went there in February and had a visit and really liked it,” said Beard.
Calhoun said that he is really glad that he got a chance to coach Beard.
“I had played for Tony (Steele) at Bloomfield and I remember Tony talking about those girls back then when I would see him,” said Calhoun. “We do a lot to honor Tony with a lot of what we do, and she is one of the last of those kids he worked with so its kind of special.
“I don’t know when we are going to see another player like Stacey,” he added.
State News
Related Photos
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Stacey Beard returns a shot in warm ups on Friday at Lena Dunn. T. Daniel Lancaster
Discussion
Beard continues to win
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