The Spanish teacher at Delhi Middle School, Maria Fraulini, steps up and accepts the role as the new Boys Varsity Coach and replaces former varsity boys tennis coach Chase Pearson. The Oak Hills Local School District appointed Fraulini as the Girls and Boys JV Tennis coach in 2022. Since 2022 the JV girls have either placed first or second place as a team in the Coaches Classic Tournaments. Fraulini values watching the tournaments the most due to the high energy and emotion brought by the girls during a match. The girls and boys JV Tennis programs brought energy that has inspired Fraulini to take on the responsibility as a goal for herself.
Fraulini attended Xavier University and majored in education while studying Spanish as well. She didn’t want to become a teacher until her high school Spanish teacher showed her what it meant to educate and make kids feel welcome at school. Fraulini stated that because her teacher made her want to come to school everyday she wanted to go into teaching for that reason. “I want to be the reason kids want to come to school and become better,” Fraulini vocalized. As a middle school teacher, Fraulini creates meaningful goals for herself. She wants to make an impact on these students just as her teacher once did for her students. Her goal is to be able to make a difference for these kids in hopes she is the reason they will want to attend school; “ I want to see them grow as students and become better people when they leave,” Fraulini voices.
Fraulini has made a huge impact on her peers and students. For example, Avery Junker, a former student of Fraulini, states that Fraulini is “one of those teachers that really cares about my opinion.” Her positivity shines throughout her classroom and reflects on her students in numerous ways. As well as her commitment to her students is shown through her involvement outside and inside of school. For instance, Fraulini is involved in running Spanish club, school musicals, and leads travel abroad groups. Junker continues by saying “I saw that Fraulini was willing to go out of her way and spend her free time to create a way for me to find more friends.”
Fraulini brings her teaching from the classroom and uses it as a way to be an extraordinary coach to her tennis team. She is able to take coaching and teaching as a way to make herself a better person for it. Fraulini pointed out that tennis has “highlighted how you can be a role model in different ways for young people.” By being a good mentor on the court she is able to help her players when they are mentally struggling to keep a positive attitude during a match. Clayton Wiegele, a player for the Boys Tennis Team, discussed that during a match his sophomore year he and his doubles partner lost the first set. Wiegele then added that Fraulini came to talk to them and said “to stay focused and whatever happens I am proud of you.” She prevents her players from being discouraged by talking and lifting them up during a match and as well as preparing them to be mentally tough before playing a competitive team.
To be specific Fraulini is interested in creating new relationships with incoming players and the high energy that comes with the season due to it being the end of the school year. An average practice under the coaching of Fraulini is an hour and a half practice where the players will participate in technique, and different shot drills and as well as some playing time against each other to replicate a match.
Overall, Fraulini is excited to take on her role as the new Varsity Boys Tennis coach and gain new relationships with the players and prepare her team to compete against other varsity teams in the GMC. What makes coaching so fun is being able “to see their personalities come to life,” Fraulini said. Fraulini will continue her coaching journey as both the Girls JV and Boys Varsity and continue to strive as both a teacher and coach.
