Three Bucs named to All-Conference team

Emily Slama
Three Blue Earth Area girls tennis players were recently named to the South Central Conference All-Conference team.
Emily Slama, Jackie Klinkner and Annika Johnson were named All-Conference.
Klinkner was also given Academic All-State honors for having a grade point average of 3.7 or higher.
In addition, the whole BEA team was given a silver plaque for Academic All-State honors, from the Minnesota High School State Coaches Association. That means that as a team, they have a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74.
First year Buc Coach Terry Barnes says he was pleased to learn the team and the three individuals had been honored.

Jackie Klinkner
“As a team the girls played well and surprised some people during the season,” he says.
Coach Barnes says Slama, just a sophomore, played in the most difficult position, No. 1 singles, all year.
“Emily is a quiet leader for us,” Coach Barnes says. “She doesn’t say a lot, but she sure leads by example.”
Slama has very good ground strokes with her forehand and backhand, the coach notes.
“We are really going to look to her to be one of our leaders next year, as well as the seniors,” Barnes says.

Annika Johnson
Klinkner, a senior, is an extremely competitive player, the coach says.
“I mean that in a positive way,” Barnes says. “Jackie made tremendous strides towards understanding the game this year,” he adds.
“She did just a terrific job of leading our program this past season,” Barnes says.
Johnson, a junior, was one of the steadiest players on the team, the coach says.
“Annika may not overpower people, but she is learning to move the ball around the court better, and is a steady player,” he explains.
“Annika will be one of our senior leaders next year, and we are looking to count on her for leadership, on and off the court,” Barnes says.
Players in the conference are given points throughout the season, both for being in conference matches and for wins. Slama had 24 points, Klinkner 21 and Johnson 20.
That put them at 12, 17 and 21 (respectively) on the conference list.
- Emily Slama
- Jackie Klinkner
- Annika Johnson