Mission tennis sprouts fresh faces, new talent
Photo by Trent Makela - Bulldog junior Josh Bowers returns a serve at a team practice last Monday.
By Trent Makela / Leader Staff
St. Ignatius tennis is hoping that a new coach can help their young teams grow around last season's seed of success. The Bulldog boys qualified nine players and finished fourth at state last year, netting the school's first state title from graduate Casey Cable. The girls finished 10th at state, qualifying four players. Both teams lost their leaders, and will be searching for new identities this season.
First-year coach Mike Ellis will take over the team's reins after serving as an assistant in Ronan last season. Ellis brings plenty of previous experience, having coached adult league teams in Las Vegas and winning a national championship in the professional league of World Team Tennis.
"This is my first year at Mission, so I'm not sure what the rest of the division is like. I know we have a good tradition of placing players in state and being competitive," Ellis said. "Just from what I've seen we have a lot of talent and a lot of room for improvement. My biggest goal is for every player to improve from the first day of practice to the last."
Ellis said returning boys' players Wyatt McCollum and Clayton Makellace appear ready to lead a talented boys' squad. Freshman Wesley Muns also brings solid fundamentals, and Ellis expects him to compete for a varsity slot.
Staci Udall, a state qualifier from last season, returns to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Carly Blush will also provide the team with varsity experience.
"They both really hit the ball well and have good ground strokes," Ellis said.
The first-year coach was surprised to see 18 players come out for the team, double the size of his Ronan squad last spring.
Four foreign exchange students — three girls and a boy — helped to bolster the 'Dogs' lineups this season. The group brings little experience to St. Ignatius, but expect to compete for slots.
"It's not like I'm getting a ringer world champion from South America or anything," Ellis said. "They looked good and should give our other kids a run for their money, though."