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Page 8 Sports
FEBRUARY
Tennis teams expect winning season
Junior Simon Manning skillfully passes the tennis ball over the net during practice.
Photo by Todd Hutchinson
The Tiger Tennis teams are on
the prowl for success this pre-season.
Both boys’ and girls’ teams have begun
training. Tigers have achieved success
in past seasons, with players like Ian
Fillmore placing in the tennis state
champions during 2003 and Logan
Buck in 2005. This year, both coaches
and teams hope to transcend previous
victories with a winning season.
Off-season training began
during the second trimester. Boys’
coach Tyler Ashley said, “Tennis is a
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sport that requires a lot of endurance.
The boys’ team begins every practice
by running the lines of all six courts.”
To those who don’t play
sports, this may seem like a lot of
work; and it only gets harder. “The
players practice the length of last
period for now, but as the season gets
closer, practice times will be extended
into after school,” said Ashley.
Winning will hopefully
soothe the aches of the painstaking
practices. The coaches are confi dent,
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not only in their teams’ abilities,
but in their capabilities to continue
improving.
“I believe that [the team] is
progressing quite nicely,” said girls’
coach Heidi Hall.
Team members are working
hard in order to perfect their game. The
teams are equipped with formidable
players. These members have enjoyed
previous seasons, and are ready for
another one.
“I started playing tennis when
I was about fi ve,” said junior Mallory
Carey, who has been playing the game
for years. “My mom played in high
school and college and she encouraged
me to play.”
“I’m excited about this
upcoming season because I think our
team has a chance to do really well.,”
Carey said. “All the girls have been
working really hard and I think it will
pay off once the season starts.”
“I am stoked about the
upcoming season. I am looking
forward to having fun and hopefully
making it to state,” said junior Lacy
Moon.
“I believe that [the team]
will learn from and progress from
their accomplishments and losses as
a team, and as individuals,” said Hall
expressing similar optimistic feelings.
“I am confi dent that
with continued practice and skill
development, they will be very
competitive over the next four years
and beyond,” Ashley said.
“This will be accomplished by
our strong players and their
enthusiasm for the game.”
“I’m excited to see the
improvement of our players in
the upcoming season,” said junior
player Travis Fillmore.
Part of this confi dence is
due to all of the training Fillmore has
endured. “I participate in national
tournaments year round and practice
with top players in Tulsa. Tennis has
its own defi nition of strenuous,” said
Fillmore.
Pre-season practices will
continue, and team members will
continue to improve in skill, until
they are ready to take on the quickly
approaching season, which will begin
at Jenks March 2nd, at 8:00pm. The
fi rst home match will be Thursday,
March 8 th , at 8:00 PM.
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