Tennis season begins in Superior
Emma Wooldrige goes after a ball at practice last week. The team took the divisional title last year.
Cary Chamberlain gets back into the swing of things at practice last week. The girls are ready for a new season of tennis and hope to win state this year.
Michele Reinalt takes a look at the incoming ball and prepares to knock it back to her opponent during practice last week.
The Superior girls’ tennis team took to the courts last week. Coach Rick Barreth said that they braved the last couple of days.
“We’ve survived the last couple of days outside despite the weather,” Barreth said.
The team was missing a few girls the first few days of practice because of prom and BPA competitions, but he hopes that everyone will be on the courts this week as they try and get ready for their first match.
The team has high hopes this year. They brought home the divisional title last year and got sixth at state. This year, Barreth said they want to bring home the state title as well.
The team has two players from Alberton joining them as well this year. Barreth said that he’s is excited to have both of them.
In addition to a few new players, Barreth said they have a few returning players. Cary Chamberlain is back. She won singles last year at divisionals. Kaylee Crabb and Sarah Wuebkes also played at divisionals and narrowly lost out, but won a match at state. Chanel Elliot and Alicia Scofield are back as is Kiana Cox, who took fourth at divisionals last year. Michele Reinalt is also returning as is Myranda Kuhl who competed at state in doubles last year.
The team has about 20 players out this year.
Barreth said that singles is more of a game that requires a lot of energy and “good ground strokes.”
“Doubles is more of a power game,” Barreth added.
Barreth said that on paper it looks like that they have a lot of time when in reality it’s not.
“There are so many spring activities going on,” Barreth said. “After we get back from spring break, we have one practice day before we play Loyola.”
Barreth said that the girls have been working hard. He said that he’s excited for the turnout.
“I was a bit worried about what our numbers would look like in the future, but it looks like we’ll be okay,” he said.
Barreth has coached tennis for 28 years, with 26 of those years at Superior.
“I enjoy the kids and seeing them improve in their skills,” he said.