Coach Townsend talks experienced players and excellent season

“That’s kind of a long list there but like I said it’s nice to have depth. Last year at this time we were kind of all over the board just because we were trying to find players that would step up and fill those spots and now just having people back and having that depth and having that experience. It’s a good feeling.”

Tony Townsend, head tennis coach

Park is tentatively scheduled to open the season Thursday, April 6, at home against St. Paul Johnson, starting at 4 p.m.

With numbers up considerably, and lots of experienced, talented players returning, Park High tennis is primed for what should be an excellent season.

“We’re excited just because the last couple years we were recovering from a huge senior class that Covid year, the year that never happened. We had 17 seniors and then we did not have a lot of tennis players in two grade levels right below them,” said Park ‘s Tony Townsend, now in his 14^th season as head tennis coach. “So the last two years have been -- we’ve been extremely young and just inexperienced. And so now we’re at that point where half of our starting lineup will be juniors and seniors. And we have the experience, they’ve been in these positions before and we’re just excited as a coaching staff to see what these kids can do.”

Park currently has 36 players out for tennis, compared to the normal 25 to 30 on the teams.

“So our depth and experience should be the best it has (been) in a very long time,” Townsend added. “And not just the varsity. The nice thing about it is just having those numbers and that depth. We're gonna have competition for the varsity. There's gonna be a lot of kids you know we had to start somewhere, especially with little court time but then you know once we get into it we're going to have a lot of young kids, even some upper classmen that are kind on the bubble between JV and varsity.”

A young Wolfpack team took some learning lumps last season, which ended with a 7-0 loss to fifth-seeded St. Thomas Academy. The Wolfpack were the 12^th-seeded team in the section. But this year’s team in much deeper and much more experience than last year’s squad.

Leading the returners is junior Caleb Swigart, who will return at No. 1 singles. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection last season. “He’s a kid who’s been working really hard during the off-season. He played No. 1 in every single match for us last year,” said Townsend. “He’ll gain more experience because playing No. 1 singles in the Suburban East Conference is very difficult because everybody is really good.”

Nine players which were in the 2022 starting lineup are back for the Wolfpack this season.

Another junior, Noah Holmgren, will be the team’s floater, playing some No. 2 or 3 singles and some No. 1 or 2 doubles.

Josh Hess probably will be in the No. 3 singles spot and will get some doubles as well. Ethan Lo will likely be at No.1 doubles with Holmgren. Robbie Menard, one of just two seniors on the team, is likely to go at No.2 doubles. Tommy Lucas returns to tennis after a season of lacrosse and will likely slide into the No. 2 singles spot. Also back are Parker Jeseritz at No.2 doubles and sophomore Drew McDonald at No. 4 singles. Senior Bailey Lane will probably play at No. 3 doubles. Mason Natterstad is another player who should make the starting lineup at No.3 or 4 doubles, Townsend said.

“That’s kind of a long list there but like I said it’s nice to have depth,” Townsend said with a laugh. “Last year at this time we were kind of all over the board just because we were trying to find players that would step up and fill those spots and now just having people back and having that depth and having that experience. It’s a good feeling.”

Townsend sees the Wolfpack being very competitive in the Suburban East this season.

“To having that experience and be in those positions last year and we gained a lot of confidence towards the end of the season,” Townsend said. “And we always talk about that continuous improvement from you know the first match to the last match of the season and the kids really bought into that and I think that we're very excited about as coaches it just seems like our team maturity has really increased as well so just not just the confidence but the leadership that we're seeing. Just the discipline and the workout ethic has really gone to another level so when you have all those things click and it just it allows me to be very, very excited.”

Park is tentatively scheduled to open the season Thursday, April 6, at home against St. Paul Johnson, starting at 4 p.m.