LEWISTON – She’s had just about enough of this second-best stuff.

Lewiston High School’s Chantalle Lavertu has been one of the top four tennis players in Maine for what seems like an eternity, but she keeps running into a churning buzzsaw. As a freshman, she wilted in the semifinals of the Maine Principal’s Association singles tournament, in part due to the unseasonable heat, and in part due to solid play from budding rival Christine Ordway of Waynflete.

One year later, Lavertu played a marathon quartet of matches Saturday and had little left in the tank against Hallsey Leighton in the semifinals the following Monday.

Last year, it was the Camille Jania show. The professional-in-training from Scarborough put on a clinic, dropping just two games all tournament while steamrolling over Lavertu – and Ordway – to the singles title.

Now in her senior season, Lavertu has culled a lesson or two from her previous seasons – she’s bulked up physically, she’s worked on her agility and she drives the ball with more power.

Now all she has to do is win.

Bigger, faster, stronger

One of the biggest reasons Lavertu struggled in longer matches during her first couple of seasons was a lack of endurance.

“Last year, I’d play a three-hour match and I’d be like, ‘O.K., I’m done,'” Lavertu said. “Now, it’s a lot better. I can go five hours on the court and still be fine.”

The reason?

Lavertu’s body caught up to her athletic ability, and she gave it a bit of a push along the way with plenty of strength training.

“I have been working out consistently all year,” Lavertu said. “I’ve been weight training at least three or four times a week.”

Oh, and then there’s the yoga.

“I’ve started to do yoga, too, which really helps me with my body awareness,” she said. “My quickness has improved, my footwork, I feel like I’ve improved on, and I’m not getting tired as much.”

Crossover win

Since Lewiston girls’ coach Anita Murphy’s son, Ron Chicoine, has taken over the Lewiston boys’ program, he’s helped Murphy’s squad out, too.

Chicoine has won more than a dozen Lewiston-Auburn open singles titles and is regarded as one of the best men’s players in Maine.

Lavertu took a set from him in a recent exhibition match.

“She’s the first female to ever take a set off me in singles,” Chicoine said with a sheepish smile. “It was legit. I was trying to win.”

Chicoine came back in the second set, but not without a fight.

“I was ahead 5-0 in that second set, but I had to play as hard as I could every point to win those, though.”

“She goes in the corners and she goes deep, and with power,” Murphy said. “Last year, she made those shots, but it wasn’t with power. This year, it’s amazing.”

Transition game

Being a senior in high school is a time of transition, for so many reasons.

Lavertu has been accepted to school at Bowdoin College in Brunswick and plans to play tennis for the Polar Bears.

“I think she wants to go into Bowdoin at the top of her game,” Murphy said. “She’s worked a lot on the physical part of her game, too. Look at her, she’s all muscles. She’s so strong.”

Chicoine took it one step further in evaluating Lavertu’s fitness and talent level.

“She talks about being No. 4 at Bowdoin next year,” Chicoine said. “If she’s No. 4 at Bowdoin next year, Bowdoin is going to win a national championship, because I can’t imagine three other people on that team being better than her. I’d be shocked.”

But lest Lavertu put the proverbial cart before the horse, there’s still a bit of unfinished business awaiting the soon-to-be graduate.

First of all, there’s the Devils’ quest for a fourth consecutive team title. As well as the team has played in recent years, this would be its first-ever four-season run, meaning Lavertu would become the first Lewiston girls’ player to earn four state tennis titles.

“That would be so amazing, to finish the four years winning each time,” Lavertu said.

And then, of course, there’s the singles tournament. Ordway is a senior this year, and Jania’s younger sister, Kasia, is a freshman at Scarborough.

Still, Lavertu’s supporters have plenty of faith.

“She’s quicker to the ball, and it’s harder to get her out of position,” Chicoine said. “She moves better than any of the good girls’ players I’ve seen play. They might have better strokes overall, but I think she moves as well or better than any other player I’ve ever seen.”