Tennis teams focusing on character
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Plenty of new faces will hit the court this week as the Powell High School tennis teams play their first matches of the year.
Half of the boys’ eight players are new to the varsity level, as are six members of the girls squad.
PHS head coach Ray Bieber said it’s a different-looking lineup, but he’s got a group of good kids who are working hard.
“We’ve got to improve a lot, but (they’re) such good kids that you can’t go wrong,” said Bieber, adding that he expects it to be a fun season.
The Panthers host Green River at 4 p.m. Friday and Rock Springs at 9 a.m. Saturday at the high school courts.
Returning at the top of the boys lineup is Cody Akin. Now a senior, he’s coming off a junior campaign that saw him take the north regional title. Bieber says Akin, who got in some practice and competition over the summer, should be one of the more experienced players in Wyoming.
“We’re really looking forward to some good things with him,” Bieber said.
Moving up to No. 2 singles is senior Kristian Stenlund, who played at No. 2 doubles and finished fourth in the state a year ago.
Stenlund is athletic and “We think he has a chance to do really well at second singles,” Bieber said.
A pair of sophomores — Rhett Pimentel and James Sheets — will fill the No. 1 doubles team.
Bieber said the duo are “two of the most dedicated players we’ve had” and have “improved tremendously” from their time on the junior varsity squad.
“We’re really excited about watching them grow,” Bieber said.
Seniors Dallin North and Miles Rumbolz, meanwhile, are moving up from No. 3 to No. 2 doubles.
“They’re both way better players than they were last year, so we’re excited about them,” Bieber said.
At No. 3 doubles, senior Tanner Barngrover and sophomore Aaron Jacobson have “a lot of potential” as they make the jump from JV to varsity, Bieber said.
Two of the girls’ eight players are returning from last year’s varsity squad: Madi Morrow and Hattie Pimentel, who played at No. 3 doubles a year ago, are leaping up to the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, respectively.
Morrow, a senior, “is really competitive, so we think she’s really going to hang in there with a lot of people,” Bieber said.
As for Hattie Pimentel, the sophomore is “just a scrapper,” the coach said. “She’ll be able to play with No. 2 people pretty well.”
After three years of playing together on the junior varsity squad, seniors Maria Kissner and Keegan McLain are moving up to take the No. 1 doubles position.
“They work well together and they’re really smart,” Bieber said.
Meanwhile, the No. 2 doubles team is being filled by junior Tessa Eller and sophomore Lauren Asher; junior Jen Bonander and sophomore Kaylee Meyer are slotted at No. 3 doubles. Bieber expects both of the duos to be competitive.
The coach said he’s working to put an emphasis on playing the best you can and improving every day. He said putting too much of a priority on a match creates a lot of pressure.
“We’re really trying to focus less on winning and more (on) improving and character and being a good team,” Bieber said, adding that, “We think that’s just going to help us overall.”
A set of “2015 Panther Tennis Covenants” lays out a number of guiding principles, like no whining or drama, showing great sportsmanship “no matter the level shown to you,” being the first to admit and correct your mistakes and to “never give up no matter what the score.”
“They’re already great kids, but you can never go wrong focusing on what’s right,” Bieber said.
A total of 42 PHS students are out for tennis this year.
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