Simona Wambeke Feature

TODAY, A CONTINUED LOOK AT THE SENIORS THAT MAKE UP CODY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS. SIMONA WAMBEKE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CODY FILLIES TENNIS TEAM AND LIKE OTHER SENIORS HAD HER SPORTS SEASON CUT SHORT DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SIMONA CONTINUES TO STAY BUSY DURING THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY BY WORKING AT A COFFEE SHOP AND BAKING. SIMONA OUTLINES WHAT SHE IS MISSING OUT ON DURING THIS SHUTDOWN.

“I WAS GOING TO DO SPRING TENNIS THIS SEASON AND JUST HELP OUT COACH WITH THE YOUNGER STUDENTS WHO HAVEN’T MAYBE PLAYED AS MUCH. SPRING SEASON’S JUST A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE IT’S NOT SO SERIOUS AND YOU CAN JUST BECOME CLOSER FRIENDS WITH ALL THE TEAMS, SO IT’S NICE.”

SIMONA IS A THREE-TIME ALL-STATE TENNIS PLAYER AS A MEMBER OF THE FILLIES. HER AND MADDY ICENOGLE FORMED A DYNAMIC DUO IN DOUBLES, WINNING THE #1 DOUBLES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR, THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT, GIVING THEM HONORS AS BEING THE BEST GIRLS DOUBLES TEAM IN WYOMING TWO STRAIGHT YEARS. THIS YEAR THE SENIOR DUO ONLY LOST ONE SET ALL YEAR WINNING ALL 19 OF THEIR MATCHES. SIMONA ON WHY HER AND MADDY WERE SO DOMINANT.

“WE’VE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE WE WERE BABIES. SHE’S MY NEIGHBOR AND WE STARTED PLAYING TENNIS WHEN WE WERE PRETTY YOUNG TOGETHER. WE’VE JUST ALWAYS KIND OF HAD A DYNAMIC AND IT HELPS THAT WE’RE FRIENDS OFF COURT TOO. WE DID TENNIS CAMPS TOGETHER AND WE JUST COMMUNICATE REALLY WELL. WE’RE ABLE TO PICK EACH OTHER UP DURING THE MATCHES, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF TENNIS, IS THE MENTAL ASPECT. I THINK WE JUST WORK WELL TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND COMMUNICATE VERY WELL TOGETHER.”

SIMONA GOES ON TO SAY ONE OF HER GREATEST MEMORIES OF BEING A FILLY WAS FROM THIS YEARS STATE TOURNAMENT.

“THIS YEAR WHEN ALL THE DOUBLES WON STATE. AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED FOR CODY TENNIS. EVERYONE WANTED TO WIN FOR THEMSELVES BUT I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE WANTED TO WIN FOR THE TEAM MORE. JUST SO AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE GIRLS JUST STRIVE AND DO SO WELL AND EVERYONE WAS SO PROUD OF EVERYONE AND EVERYONE WAS HUGGING. A COUPLE OF US WERE CRYING CAUSE IT’S THE LAST TIME WE HAVE THAT. IT’S JUST SUCH A BITTERSWEET MEMORY. IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY SENIOR YEAR.”

AND BEING A PART OF CODY ATHLETICS WILL BE SOMETHING SHE’LL NEVER FORGET.

“THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO I’VE DONE SPORTS WITH, WHETHER IT’S TENNIS OR SPORTS I TRIED FOR A SEASON FRESHMAN YEAR, WHATEVER IT IS. ALL OF THE KIDS, WE ALL JUST GET ALONG REALLY WELL AND IT’S GOING TO BE SAD BUT ALSO HAPPY TO MOVE ON. I’M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF A CLUB TENNIS TEAM NEXT YEAR. I THINK IT WILL STILL BE FUN.”

WHILE COMPETITIVE TENNIS MAY NOT BE IN HER FUTURE PLANS, GOING TO COLLEGE AND GETTING A DEGREE IS.

“NEXT YEAR I’M GOING TO GO DOWN TO LARAMIE, HOPEFULLY, AND STUDY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. THEN AFTER THAT I WANT TO GO TO OPTOMETRY SCHOOL, HOPEFULLY. THAT’S THE PLAN.”

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