Mission tennis strong, with help from middle school program
<p>Kylie Richter/ Lake County Leader Freshman Brooklyn Hunt serves the ball during her match on Saturday in St. Ignatius. Kylie Richter/ Lake County Leader Freshman Brooklyn Hunt serves the ball during her match on Saturday in St. Ignatius.</p>
By Kylie Richter
Lake County Leader
The Mission tennis teams are starting to see the impact of a middle school tennis program. Head coach Kimimi Ashley said, “I think this year is the first time we have really seen noticeable improvement in our incoming freshmen."
The middle school program has been around officially for about five years, according to Ashley. “These freshman players have a real interest in tennis because they were able to play in their middle schools years.”
One of those is Brooklyn Hunt, who Ashley said is “maybe the best freshman player to come through the program.”
Three freshman boys and three freshman girls joined the tennis team this spring. All together, the girls have only five girls, while the boys have eight.
Ashley said as far as the boys' team goes, she is excited to see the new players and returning players compete. One in particular who she believes will have a successful year is junior Andrew Esslinger.
On the girls' side, Ashley said junior Daisy should have a good year as she moves up to the number one singles slot for the Bulldogs.
The teams had their first matches this last Saturday, although not all of the players could compete because they didn't have enough practices in.
Both teams have matches coming up next week, when more players will be eligible to play.
St. Ignatius 1 - Phillipsburg 1
Daisie VandeBos (SI) defeated Josie Ray (PB) 6-1, 6-1
Maggie Althaus (PB) defeated Brooklinn Hunt (SI) 6-1, 7-6 (10-8)