Rookie rackets dominate Ronan

RONAN — What do you do when you lose seven tennis players to graduation? Nab anyone who shows potential.

"We've been recruiting any kid with basic footwork skills and hand and eye coordination," said assistant tennis coach Shelly Buhr.

More than half of the boys and girls teams consist of first timers.

Buhr and head coach Gordon Cummings have been prepping the players as best they can, despite poor weather conditions, all in an effort to pump them with as much experience as possible in very little time.

They've had them indoors, stretching them and conditioning them and training them with weights, Cummings explained.

"With the track team and softball team in the same gym, things get pretty hectic."

Of the freshmen interviewed, many admitted that their experience with tennis has been limited, but that is not to say that this batch of newbies is doomed.

Many showed signs of dedication even before they began practice several weeks ago.

In February, while the weather was nice, they were out here hitting balls by themselves, Cummings said.

While the winter-like weather has been an obstacle, junior Briana Lake has her own impediment to overcome.

"My feet point in, my legs are crooked, my tendon is too long," and down the list Lake went. "It's like tendonitis, but worse. Doctors aren't sure what it is."

Lake hasn't been going to physical therapy, but she has been training with weights, which she says has helped considerably.

Cummings has faith in returning players Brooke Cornelius and Amanda Olberg.

"Brooke is our best bet," Cummings said. "She is two to four seed in her conference."

Cornelius has a different game plan this year.

"I'm going to play my opponent, not myself," Cornelius explained. "I'm going to lighten up on myself."

Cornelius, who describes herself as a perfectionist, admits that she is her own worst critic, but this time around she said she is going to concentrate on just playing the game.

As for Olberg, though she didn't win any single matches last year, she came very close, Cummings explained.

Cummings also has high hopes for his only returning boys, senior Acorn Lonnie and junior Chip Harding. Cummings described them both as good consistent players.

One of the threats facing the Ronan tennis team is Dillon, which had the top-seeded girl in last year's conference, Eve Xanthopolis, plus Dillon has the top girls team in singles and doubles.

Teams from Hamilton and Whitefish are potential challenges as well, because unlike Ronan, they've been able to train all winter on indoor courts, Cummings explained.

Ronan's first game is Saturday, April 2, a double header in Missoula against Valley Christian at 9 a.m., followed by Stevensville at 3 p.m.

First home match is April 7 at 4 p.m. against Polson.