By John Molene

Park High girls’ tennis lost some of its big guns to graduation last spring but returns several veterans and lots of eager newcomers to brand new home courts this fall.

Missing from this year’s Wolfpack lineup are Hannah Holmgren and Abby Fjelsta who advanced to the state tournament in doubles and Kate Townsend, who took third place in the Section 3AA singles. Also departed are Dana Petrie, who played No.3 singles last season and Jenna Mahnke who played at No. 3 doubles.

Leading the returning players back for the Wolfpack is Avrie Morris, last season’s No. 2 single player who should be at No. 1 singles this fall.

Also back are Morgan Leick at No. 2 doubles last year, Finley Leick, who played No. 3 doubles last year and projected to play both singles and doubles this year, Grace Townsend, who played No. 4 singles last year.

Pasia Pitkanen bounced back and forth between varsity and JV last year and will play singles and doubles and Noelle Chapek, Park’s top JV player from last year who will also play singles and doubles.

Team strengths should be senior leadership, a strong work ethic and a team of skilled and athletic players, said Tony Townsend, now in his fifth season as head girls’ tennis coach. Weaknesses include a lack of varsity experience in some half of the positions and an extremely young team.

Park was 3-6 in conference play last season and 12-10 overall. The Wolfpack finished as the 3AA Section runner-up, topping Rosemount (4-3), Hastings (5-2) and Visitation Academy (4-3) before falling to Simley in a 3-4 heartbreaker.

A successful season will come if the players “continue to work hard each and every day and keep progressing as a tennis team,” said Townsend. “I am very excited to see how our growth from the beginning of the season to the end. It will be so rewarding to watch the confidence grow in our very young team.”

The Wolfpack opens the 2022 tennis season by hosting St. Paul Johnson on Saturday, Aug. 27, starting at 10 a.m.