Triton Looking To Step Further
BOURBON – Triton’s girls tennis team surprised even themselves last season in their march to the sectional finals of the Bremen Sectional. But feelings of both optimism and skepticism surround the Triton team as spring ushers in a new season.
Triton seemed to have all the right pieces fall into place last season as the team built an 11-4 record in coming up short to Bremen in the sectional championship. Recruiting its No. 3 singles player from its managerial ranks, coach Al Peckham’s club had Kylie Mason go 12-3 from the position and solidify what was already a formidable singles group of Kaelyn Mason at No. 1 and Shayla May at No. 2. All three girls return this season, the Mason twins as seniors and May a junior, and should anchor the club.
Kaelyn was 13-4 in dual matches, May 9-8 overall.
“Kylie had that record because of her athleticism, she really covers a lot of ground,” Peckham said. “It’s really nice to have all three of those girls back. The experience they have is something we lack with just about everyone else in the program. We have some capable players, but they will need some time to get used to the speed of the game.”
The Lady Trojans lost all of its doubles players, leaving a gigantic hole to fill. Peckham noted the lone player in the current ranks with any high school experience not in the top three is sophomore Siera Sauer, but her time at the varsity level has been limited.
Peckham noted a handful of newcomers that could help right away. Sophomore Quinn Downing, who has played varsity volleyball and basketball already, has joined the tennis program. A trio of freshmen could also contribute in Emma Ross, Hannah Wanemacher and Kolbie Mason, the youngest sister of the Mason family.
Triton is set to open its season April 13 at home against Knox.
Warsaw could be an intriguing team once it gets its bearings.
Losing a good portion of its varsity roster to graduation, the team could actually be stronger coming in with a huge group of talented freshmen plus a few key upperclassmen in tow.
All three singles players are gone, as well as a pair of doubles seniors, but senior Camille Kerlin and sophomore Athena Schlitt return. Head coach Rick Orban noted during challenge matches that 10 players are in competition for the seven varsity spots, the two returners included.
Also in the mix are seniors Sydney Hartman and Shelby Roberts, junior Rosie Fleming, and freshmen Ella Knight, Liza Lewis, Grace Miller, Hanna Rice and Collette Smith.
“We have great depth this year and it’s a wonderful problem to have,” Orban said. “I just have to get the right combinations and make sure that everyone is comfortable in the positions that they are playing in.”
Wawasee is still trying to get its feet underneath itself after an injury-plagued 2014 season. At one point, the Lady Warriors had just two varsity players active from its opening day lineup due to a myriad of injuries.
The Lady Warriors bring back just three from the sectional roster, but all three have multiple years of varsity experience. Senior Jada Antonides should be the lead singles player for first-year head coach Shane Staley’s team and classmate Chelsea Carolus returns as well. Junior Jazlyn Gehlhausen competed in doubles last year and also returns.
Juniors Madison Cooper and Charity Parker were primarily JV players last season but could crack the lineup.
Staley hasn’t committed to a formal lineup just yet, but likes the work from several newcomers, including freshman Kabrea Rostochak.
Tippecanoe Valley returns No. 1 singles senior Hannah Dalrymple as well as No. 3 singles junior Whitney Haneline to the fold. Valley, however, lost all four of its doubles players to graduation and have just one other senior, Ariel Schoettmer, on the roster. Juniors Morgan Brazo, Cassidy Cave and Brooke Danner should figure into the starting lineup.
Whitko is still rebuilding, but has some success coming back in junior Mikayla Findley, who was a regional qualifier as an individual last season. Whitko also has twin sophomore sisters Morgan and Delaney Keirn returning from the doubles circuit as well as Aurelia Stephens with singles experience.