Thursday afternoon in St. Charles the desire to win a tennis match was set-aside for a while by the need to honor a fallen teammate and friend.
        About 40 people, including St. Charles North players and their parents, gathered on the courts at the far west side of the school to dedicate a new backboard in memory of Samantha Joos, who died in a car accident last November while driving on Randall Road.
        Coach Tim Matacio called Joos a pioneer, since she had been a member of the first North Stars varsity team. Joos played varsity doubles as a freshman and a sophomore, but didn't make the varsity team her junior season. That created one of those situations that can tell you a lot about what a person is made of.
        "We all have times in our lives where we are really disappointed, and she was very disappointed when she didn't make varsity," Matacio said. "She could've become angry and bitter, but she didn't do that."
        Instead, Joos worked on her game and made the varsity team as a senior. None of that came as a surprise to Tim Joos, Samantha's father.
        "She wasn't a quitter," Joos said. "She and I used to play tennis all the time and she would beat me individual games, she never beat me in a set but would always want to come back next Saturday and try again."
        After the emotional ceremony, the North Stars took the court and struggled against Upstate Eight Conference rival Lake Park. ...
        ... ...
        "The dedication definitely had an impact on how we played this match," [Jacki] Bober said. "Sam had a much better attitude about life than I do, and the momentum of it all had an effect."
        ... ...
        "After yesterday's match we really wanted to get out there and win, and the dedication gave us a lot of positive enery," [Lauren] Dutkiewicz said.
        ... There's little doubt that the impact of the dedication lingered into the match, just as memories of Joos have stayed with those who knew her best.
        "I miss her so much, still to this day I wait for my phone to ring and have her call me so that we can hang out," said Kim Mrotek, a close friend of Joos.
        Since her death there have been a number of changes along Randall Road designed to make it safer, including more stop lights, a lower speed limit, and a median along the stretch where Joos lost control of her automobile.
        "A group of students and one of the JV coaches (Steve Cole) made that happen," Joos said. "To have a construction project like that done by the city in less than a year is unbelievable."
        Five thousand dollars were raised to pay for the top-of-the-line Bakko backboard. It's an appropriate way to remember a player who would spend long hours practicing on her own.
        "I really liked that the school did this for her, she never would've believed it," Tim Joos said. "She really loved these girls, and loved playing tennis with them so it's fitting that this is the memorial she'll have."

Dedicated to the Memory of
Samantha Nichole Joos
"Sam"
January 20, 1986 - November 4, 2003

Sam loved to play tennis. She was a member of the St. Charles North H.S. tennis team for 4 years (2000-2003). She was one of the first 25 girls to try out for the team at North.

Shortly after completing her senior season, on Nov. 4, 2003, Samantha was killed in a car accident on her way to school. As a result of her death, changes have been made to Randall Road for the safety of all future travelers.

Known as "Sunshine" by her family, and "Sam" by her friends, Samantha spread the spirit of friendliness, joy and contribution to all she touched.

Samantha could often be seen practicing against the backboard at Thompson M.S. It's fitting that this backboard pays tribute to "Sam", a girl who gave so much.