It’s a bit of rebuilding year for the Park High girls tennis team this fall, at least up top.
Park must replace its top two singles players, Avrie Morris and Finley Leick, as well as half …
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It’s a bit of rebuilding year for the Park High girls tennis team this fall, at least up top.
Park must replace its top two singles players, Avrie Morris and Finley Leick, as well as half its top doubles team in Morgan Leick.
The hardest thing is “just trying to find that experience to play those positions,” said head coach Tony Townsend.
Several top players return, however, in team captain Becky Etten, along with Grace Townsend, Pasia Pitkanen, Camilla Brooks, Liv Evans, Emery Lettner, Madi Brinkman, Lauren Osland and Noelle Chapek.
Park will likely go with a rotation early in the season to determine the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles competitors. “Hopefully as the season goes on, we will have someone that will step up and fill those spots,” said Townsend. “But you know as well as I do the Suburban East Conference is so difficult at those spots. If you put that same kid there over and over you don’t want their confidence to go.”
Park was 3-6 in the Suburban East Conference last fall and 8-10 overall. A middle-of-the-road finish this fall would be an acceptable team goal, Townsend said.
“I think this is a team that will be a completely different team at the end of the season compared to the beginning of the season. And they work so hard. They’re just very coachable and energetic. They fly around. I think it’s going to be a fun, fun season.”
Team strengths are expected to be depth and experience, despite losing three players from the top of the lineup.
“We have a lot of experience coming back that got varsity experience last year,” said Townsend. “We have a lot of girls that will be competing.”
Areas of concern are obviously a lack of experience at No. 1 singles and doubles.
“These will be difficult positions to fill,’ Townsend said.
Asked what would make for a successful season. Townsend said. “To continue to improve with every match and find a way to win some close matches in conference play.”
Park plays in a four-team invitational at Hastings Friday, starting at 8:30 a.m.
