Lily Ohlman’s biggest influence with regard to tennis at a young age was her father who played high school tennis at Forest Hills Northern. “I probably started around the age of 6 playing solely
As it turns out this became “such a full circle.”

“I only got serious about tennis a few years later, when I started to take lessons from various coaches in GR,” she says.  She played lots of USTA tournaments when she was younger, although she says she never did particularly well.

But various coaches in the Grand Rapids area were big influences. She learned under intensive, strict, and tough coaching styles “in workouts that were essential to my success.” But in situations that are very common, it was the quality of her courtclassmates that made an essential difference. “I was in the top group,” she says, “which meant that I was playing with amazing players and got to learn from them.”

She describes herself as “just kinda good” when entering high school. She played 1S her freshman year but endured a losing season. “It was a very tough year for me,” she says. “I came into high school tennis not being very mentally strong on the court. All I had was a bit of talent and lacked the discipline, resilience, etc to win against most players.”

But her sophomore year was, in her words, “full of growth.

“That year was when I unlocked a deeper level of my soul, it felt like, and began to truly compete,” she says. “I attribute so much of my success now to my changed mindset back then. In my sophomore year, I began to be much more positive on the court, which led to an increased work ethic and therefore motivation. I truly started to believe I had the potential to win every match I walked into, which was so beautifully transformative to my game. I became very stoic and calm when competing, which gave me the nickname "Lilith" from team moms.” That year, she played 2S, achieved all conference and all state, and reached the quarter-finals of the state tournament before losing to Birmingham Seaholm.

At 1st singles, she won back to back State Championships her junior and senior seasons and her record was 55-4 during those seasons. This was because she had gained the ability to block out everything around her when she was on the court and she maintained this focus for the entire match.

In her junior year she was one singles and was all-state, all-conference, regional and state champion, suffering only two losses against 27 wins.

In her final year, she was again 1S, completing an almost perfect level of achievement.  At 1S, she was all-state, all-conference, conference champion, regional champion, and state champion. Her two losses against Mattawan and Farmington Hills Mercy were avenged at the state finals where she defeated both of them on her way to the state crown.

 

“If I could give one piece of advice to any struggling tennis player, it would be to simply believe in yourself so strongly that you have no doubt you can win. And I don't mean that in an egotistical way at all. At both state tournaments my junior and senior year, I was never worlds better than anyone there. I know the only reason I won “states” 2 times was of my mindset.”

“She became an extremely strong mental player,” confirms varsity coach Dan Bolhouse. “She had the ability to block out everything around her when she was on the court and maintained this focus for the entire match. Starting her junior year, we discussed her goals and it was so much fun seeing her accomplish them.”

This is a young lady who knows what she wants and is bound and determined to achieve it. She put together a 3.7 GPA at Forest Hills Central, was a member of the National Honor Society, Editor-in-Chief of FHC Sports Report, President of Environmental Club, AP Scholar with Honors (4 or higher on 4 AP exams).

“I'm going to the University of Vermont,” she says. “I would love to become an environmental lawyer one day. “I hope to fight climate change through law as a career. I'm very passionate about this and that is why I'm not pursuing college tennis. I'm double majoring in political science and environmental studies at Vermont, on a pre-law track. I will likely transfer to U of Michigan after my first year.”

Off the court Lily was very active in protecting the environment and she volunteered for the Mary Free Bed wheelchair tennis team and BuddyUp tennis.  “I’m lucky to have been able to coach her during her time at FHC and get to know her as a person, says Dan.