OKEMOS - An undefeated, 32-0, season and iconic state championship victory, not only capped off an impeccable four season run for Okemos tennis superstar Emily Struble, but put her into the most elite of company in Michigan High School sports history.

"Everybody talks about winning your first, second and third, and a lot of people have done that," Struble said. "I actually read right before I won my fourth one that only four people in tennis state history have ever won four. "

You read it right. Struble, not only delivered this past year, but won four state titles in a sport that looks to individual merit and achievement, winning her first two in No. 2 singles and her second two as the No.1 singles competitor among all of the state's D 2 athletes.

"It's an individual sport, which I love, because you win or lose and can't blame it on anyone else."

That sort of accountability drove Struble to be the best; however, initially, she had no idea any of this success could ever be achieved.

Emily's father, Tracy, a man who only dabbled in the sport, saw his son, Andy, immerse himself into tennis at a young age. Soon after, a seven-year-old Emily would follow.

"My brother chose because he likes to hit the ball hard," Struble said. “I had to copy him because I do what he does.”

Just like that, the Struble family became a tennis family with mom, Nonnie, and dad giving 110 percent for their kids.

Practicing day in and day out with Emily, her parents developed an Okemos legend.

"I have watched thousands of hours of lessons, and I have learned things that I didn't understand about the game before." Tracy said. "There is so much more going on than just hitting the ball. The footwork and everything else is important."

All of that studying, and it is easy to see where Emily's diligence came from.

"Her mother has worked with her so hard. All of the time she (Emily) spends on the court practicing, whether with her group at Court One, or with her mother and I, she just is continuously working."

Despite all of the hard work, once again, Emily had a hard time believing all of this success would come.

Her brother, an excellent player himself and the one who inspired her to start playing, never won a state title in his time with Okemos. Emily was there to see the close calls and valiant efforts but never a ring. So, Emily, copying everything Andy did, did not see winning a state title as a goal until it happened.

"I never thought of it as something I needed to do or wanted to do until I got there, and then I realized it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be."

83 wins and two losses later, Emily headed into her senior season, with improvement still in mind as a two-time captain.

"I remember being a freshman and just looking up to everything the seniors did and trying to work as hard as them," Struble said. "I wanted to make sure I did that for my team. I wanted to make sure I worked hard and showed them what to do."

Emily proceeded to lead her team to its highest ranking of her tenure at No. 3 in the state.

Adding an additional and final fourth state title to her resume, Emily committed to Miami (Ohio) University, where she will look to build upon the ability and leadership she cultivated at Okemos.

"We're super proud of Emily and everything she has done," Tracy said. "Nobody could have expected her to do this well. It was all determination on Emily's part."