SPEEDWAY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Today, we celebrate Hser Eh Ler, a senior student-athlete at Speedway who participates as a key member of Whitney Baker’s girls tennis program. And even though she’s an important contributor, you may not see it. And that’s by design. “Hser is an outstanding example of the quiet model leader on the tennis court,” said Baker. “She is a player I tend to use as an example for others to see my expectations. I look to her often to set an example. For example, Hser has one of the most beautiful backhand strokes I’ve seen on my team in my ten years of coaching. I often look to her to provide examples of what tennis fundamentals should look like and you would rarely see her ask to seek that attention.” One of the Speedway’s top students in the Class of 2024, Hser is interested in studying optometry at IU-Indianapolis next fall. Her drive for being a successful student comes in part due to the influence of her mother. “She reminds me to think twice before I think about giving up,” said Hser. That drive also can be seen on the tennis court. “She is very focused on her game and her court,” said Baker. “And she does not seek accolades or recogniton for her great achievements in the sport. She is incredibly smart and is able to think out specific match situations while playing.” “It’s fun,” said Hser when referencing playing tennis for the Sparkplugs. “The environment of being part of a team is almost always positive because of how uplifting my coaches and teammates are.” Hser earned All-ICC honors in tennis and the Sparkplug girls lost in the sectional championships each of the last two years by a 2-3 score. This year, with much of the team returning from last spring, the girls hope to flip the result. “I’m very excited to see her compete in her final season… and to see her love of the game grow,” said Baker. “She has added to our varsity lineup since her sophomore year where she started out as a singles player and has transitioned over to a 1 doubles player this past year.” Hser is the daughter of Nyaw Kue and Deh Dah. Her siblings include Tue Tue Looe, Heh Kle, and Benjamin Dah.