Tennis team season starts slowly

By Mandi Johnson • March 11, 2020 1:30 am
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Front row (left to right): Meg Carrier, Maggie Chin, Emily Walters, Amelia Etinge, Clarissa Felix, Allie Fleming, Kai Di Bona. Back row (right to left): Magaly Aguayo, Kyla Balcomb-Bartok, Ayla Ridwan, Lizzy Lee, Emma Mughal, Eleanor Rollins, Lucy Martin, Noa Alvarez Perez, Lillia Gamez, Emilie Mason, Lucy Marinkovich, Isabella Vanderyacht. Not pictured: Haley Rennick, Ivonne Plaza, Trinity Cullen, Sonora Tate, Rachel Snow, Molly Tangney, Eva Sanabria, Taylor Hollis, Phaedra Nielson.
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Front row (left to right): Meg Carrier, Maggie Chin, Emily Walters, Amelia Etinge, Clarissa Felix, Allie Fleming, Kai Di Bona. Back row (right to left): Magaly Aguayo, Kyla Balcomb-Bartok, Ayla Ridwan, Lizzy Lee, Emma Mughal, Eleanor Rollins, Lucy Martin, Noa Alvarez Perez, Lillia Gamez, Emilie Mason, Lucy Marinkovich, Isabella Vanderyacht. Not pictured: Haley Rennick, Ivonne Plaza, Trinity Cullen, Sonora Tate, Rachel Snow, Molly Tangney, Eva Sanabria, Taylor Hollis, Phaedra Nielson.

*ALL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS*

The Friday Harbor High School Wolverine girls tennis team’s spring season is off to a slow start, said Coach Kevin Cullen. The team of 27 — with 16 new athletes — is ready to take to the court.

“We had a large and talented senior class last year, including our first and second singles and first and second doubles teams,” Cullen said. “This will definitely be a building year for us, but we have a good core of returning players that will be able to step up to fill those roles.”

Since the team hadn’t had many chances to meet before the preview went to press, Cullen couldn’t give too much detail on his individual players but has a plan for the season regardless.

“We will stay together as a team for the first week to help build the team dynamic, but will need to stagger practices again to make the best use of our court space and because the needs of the beginning players and the competitive players are so different,” Cullen said. “We will still have everyone together for fitness between the two practices to keep that sense of unity.”

Cullen said there is typically a lot of growth seen in third-year players, and this year’s team has several of them. He is also excited about the new players, who he said are fantastic.

“They are quality people that work hard, have great attitudes, and are exceptional representatives of our school and community,” Cullen said.

This season, Cullen said he is looking forward to watching the returning athletes build upon skills demonstrated in previous seasons and watching the new players develop a love for a life-long sport.

“Our practices are energetic and fun and they do a great job of supporting each other,” Cullen said.

The Wolverine tennis team’s first match is a 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31 against South Whidbey at home.