Isabelle Peplinski was quite persistent.

Peplinski, now a senior at Glen Lake Community Schools, was one of a few girls to play on the school’s technically co-ed (but mostly boys) tennis program through her sophomore year.

Although she was indeed competitive, it just didn’t feel quite right.

“I definitely wanted a girls team, because a lot of my friends who I played with in middle school didn’t play tennis in high school due to the fact that it was co-ed,” she tells The Ticker. “So I really wanted the opportunity for them to play without being uncomfortable.”

Peplinski started by getting a list of girls who would play if there was a girls team. Then she turned into a dog with a bone on the matter.

“I talked to (Athletic Director Rachel) Stein a lot. I talked to (Superintendent Jason) Misner a little bit, but basically every day I would go and see Ms. Stein and I'd be like, ‘Hey, I really want this girls team. Are you working on it?’ And she's like, ‘Yeah, yeah, we'll get it.’ So yeah, I just basically bugged her almost every single day.”

Her persistence paid off, with the district launching its first ever all-girls program last year. It’s been a great place for girls to learn, grow and have fun.

“I feel like I can actually relate to my teammates more,” Peplinski said. “I had one girl teammate with me on the boys team, but we didn’t really get super close, but I feel like on the girls team we really have a strong connection…it’s been super fun and I feel more comfortable as well.”

Erin Mitchell, who coaches the girls, sees them thrive in this environment.

“I feel like they can be themselves completely,” she says. “And it’s great that they can play other girls at their ability level or higher and get better together as girls. It’s just really different than playing boys…and I think the girls like having their own space.”

The program has co-op agreements in place with Leland and Lake Leelanau St. Mary, and next year plans to welcome girls from Suttons Bay (Glen Lake offers the only all-girls program in Leelanau County).

As of right now, Mitchell has 10 girls from Glen Lake and one from Leland. She's looking for several more, for as soon as this year and in upcoming years. Too few players has her team running the risk of forfeiting matches, especially since the girls are busy and not every girl can make every match.

“I will take any ability. It’s fun to teach tennis, and I have some girls that are very patient and willing to help,” Mitchell says. “I had a girl last year who had never picked up a racket that was recruited by her friend on the team, and she brought her in this year. She's playing singles for me and doing pretty well.”

AD Stein tells The Ticker the program has been a “great addition to our school community.”

“While we’ve always welcomed girls to compete on the boys team, having a dedicated girls program has made a meaningful difference. It gives these athletes the opportunity to compete against other female athletes and step into leadership roles—earning top seeds while building confidence and feeling empowered,” she says. “Erin has also been a wonderful addition as their coach.  Some of the girls had never played in a match before last year, and her positivity and encouragement have been exactly what the program needed to bring it to life and help grow participation.”

 Image: Teammates carrying Peplinski, Credit Erin Mitchell