DIKE - Elizabeth Weinberg didn't know much about the sport of tennis heading into her freshman season at Dike-New Hartford. She'd never played competitively.

Now, as a senior looking back, things have gone better for Weinberg than she could have ever imagined. She's a defending NICL Conference doubles champion who entered the week with a combined 15-0 record between No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles.

Weinberg's success is even more impressive considering she was once advised by doctors against participating in athletics. At age 6 she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - a chronic disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints.

"Anything from shaking hands to picking up a ball would hurt my joints so bad that I wasn't allowed the opportunities I would have loved to have as a kid," Weinberg said.

While arthritis impacts her entire body, Weinberg's right wrist is most affected.

Since childhood, Weinberg has made multiple trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where she was given medication to treat the arthritis. Two years ago, her wrist - approximately the circumference of a half dollar - deformed to the point where she underwent surgery that fused her bones together, limiting motion but providing stability.

Despite the physical setbacks, Weinberg was always eager to participate in athletics. She competed in cross country in seventh through ninth grades, but the stress distance running put on her feet and toes prevented her from finishing races.

Weinberg also talked her parents into letting her play softball. Due to the weakness in her dominant right hand, she would catch the ball, pop her glove off and throw left-handed. The sport's speed of play, however, was too great at the high school level.

Then came tennis.

"When I saw that it was a racket sport and kind of different, I knew that it was something that I would be able to do," Weinberg said.

A weekly regimen of two pills and a shot allow Weinberg to play tennis with few physical limitations. Despite being right-hand dominant, she has always played sports left-handed.

"It was like my body just compensated for my right hand not being able to do anything," Weinberg said. "Since I was 7 I haven't been able to lift up a milk jug or pop can or open a door with my right hand. My body just switched over to the left.

"On the T-ball and softball team, I started to get strength in my left hand. It was weak at first, but I just kept using it so much as a kid that when I reached high school I had the consistency and hand-eye coordination already there."

As a freshman, Weinberg saw steady growth in tennis. She improved from ninth to seventh on her team's ladder and was able to travel with the varsity. Weinberg played No. 5 singles as a sophomore and moved into the No. 3 slot junior year. That season was highlighted by her teaming up with Lacey Paar to win the conference title at No. 2 doubles. The effort helped the Wolverines to a team title by three points.

Paar and Weinberg have continued that success this season at No. 1 doubles.

"Our chemistry on the court just clicked," Weinberg said. "It's really good to have someone that supports you not only as a teammate, but also as a friend."

In practice, Weinberg's chronic illness is a subject that never comes up.

"They don't look at her as even having any kind of disability, and neither do I," coach Lin Smith said. "I don't ever think about it. She's just the same as the other kids as far as doing drills. … She's always been a part of the team and always done everything everybody else does."

Outside of athletics, Weinberg is strong musically and involved in multiple academic organizations. She plays the flute, and arthritis hasn't prevented her from becoming an all-stater this year. She'll attend Wartburg on a music scholarship.

"Since I can't do a lot of sports, I get involved in a lot of other areas where if I didn't have arthritis I wouldn't have taken the opportunity to get involved," Weinberg said.

Prior to tennis matches, Weinberg writes a set of goals down on her hand. Not much prevents her from reaching them.

"I'm pretty goal-oriented," she said. "And I think that's because of the things I haven't been allowed to do. With the things that I can accomplish, I strive to get there and get to the top."