Fountain Lake’s Mungle signs with Henderson State tennis
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Senior Lainey Mungle signed her national letter of intent Wednesday to take her tennis talents to Henderson State University.
Mungle was a four-year tennis player for the Fountain Lake Cobras.
After signing her letter, friends and family cheered Mungle, and she said she was excited for the opportunity to play at the next level.
“It is an exciting day,” she said of all the support she had at her signing day.
Fountain Lake head tennis coach Chris Mungle, as her coach and father, said he is really proud.
“She has put a lot of time and effort into it,” Chris Mungle said. “I have three kids, and she is the youngest one. We exposed all three of our kids to tennis and thought it was a really good sport, lifelong sport and it really stuck with her.”
Lainey Mungle’s accolades include three time Class 4A-7 singles district champion, a state Elite Eight appearance as a sophomore and third in state in her junior and senior years.
“I started in sixth grade,” Lainey Mungle said. “That is kind of late compared to a lot of people. So that was really exciting.”
Chris Mungle said he knew in the state tournament that she could play at the next level in her junior season.
“She made a run through (state) and got all the way to the semis and then had a chance,” Chris Mungle said. “I was like, ‘She might be able to play at the next level.’ That junior year tennis was at (University of the Ozarks) and the tennis coach at the U of O had come up and talked to me about her playing tennis up there. I was like, ‘OK,’ not just being her coach and her dad, but maybe she is good enough to play at the next level.”
Lainey Mungle was adorned with the honors of All-State twice and All-District four times. Chris Mungle said he has been most proud of her in some of her defeats.
“She has not been beat the last three years in district until we got to the state tournament,” Chris Mungle elaborated on her defeats. “That is her only three losses, last three years.
“But we play a lot of travel tennis, (U.S. Tennis Association) during the summers. What has really matured to her is when you get into those type tournaments you can play against some really top competition regionally. She has learned how to deal when things do not go her way.”
Chris Mungle said what has made her good is the time she spent playing extra matches in Hot Springs Village on her own.
Lainey Mungle talked about what she expects her first year on campus.
“I am just really excited to go and just be a part of the team,” she said, “and just make new friendships.”
Lainey Mungle said she first got on Henderson State’s radar by playing on campus. She said that is how she was recruited.
“We had our district tournament at Henderson’s campus because Arkadelphia is on our conference,” Lainey Mungle said. “(Head coach Annabel Harvey) was just there. They had just had practice, and we were playing our district tournament.”
Lainey Mungle is a 4.0 student and said she plans to study to be a pilot.
“Aviation, a pilot, yes,” Lainey Mungle said of her dream to fly. “One of my friend’s moms took me flying in her little plane. Then I loved it ever since.”
Lainey Mungle spoke about her family’s reaction to her being offered as a Reddie. “They were just really excited,” she said. Lainey Mungle said her favorite high school tennis memory was against the boys in doubles.
“My favorite memory is playing the boys doubles team with my friends Paige (Davis),” Lainey Mungle said. “It was after just our regular tennis matches. It was really fun. We won.”
Lainey Mungle and Davis are also teammates on the Fountain Lake girls basketball team. Lainey Mungle said she will be back on a tennis court soon.
“I am in basketball season right now,” she said. “Once basketball season ends I will get back to playing tennis.”
Chris Mungle said Henderson State fits Lainey Mungle perfectly.
“Henderson offers aviation, which she is wanting to get into,” Chris Mungle said. “Met the coach down there, really liked her. She is playing college tennis, but she is also close enough that we can go see her play quite a bit. So, really looking forward to it.”