Published: August 18, 2008 10:23 am         

GHS tennis team will try to win the close matches

Figuring out how to capture some close matches is again a challenge for the Goshen High School boys tennis team.

“We have a lot of people new to tennis at the high school level and it will be a struggle to get that third point in a lot of matches,” said sixth-year Redskin coach Scott Miller.

Returning letterwinners are seniors Mac Hussey and Ryan Wengerd, junior Andy VanKlaveren and sophomore Stefan Baumgartner.

“All four have made improvements and they understand they will be up against a lot of solid players on our schedule, especially within the (Northern Lakes) conference,” said Miller.

“Hussey and Wengerd return as our No. 1 and No. 2 singles players. VanKlaveren is at No. 3 singles after playing No. 1 doubles last year and Baumgartner is at No. 1 doubles after playing No. 2 doubles last year.”

Also on the squad are juniors Leo Lopez and Jose Salazar; sophomores Alex Johnson, Jonathon Tan and Philip Bontrager; freshmen Nick Dandino, Collin Erickson, Seth Koble, Paul Johnson, Jorge Hernandez-Walter and Eli Metzler-Prieb.

“Right now, Tan is teaming with Baumgartner at No. 1 doubles,” said Miller. “Koble, Paul Johnson, Erickson and Alex Johnson are in the mix at No. 2 doubles.

“We have a lot of players who are equal and we could have three or four different varsity lineups early in the season.

“Mac Hussey has grown a lot physically since his freshman year and he is a leader from the get-go, being more vocal now to go along with being a leader by example.

“Wengerd is a little more quiet, but has matured into a leader himself. We need that from both him and Hussey because we have so many new players on this team.”

Tennis players graduating were Ryan Miller, Zach Taylor, Steven Brillhart, Juan Medina, Gustavo Ramirez and Cam Snyder.

Daniel Love and Jeremy McLaughlin are assistant coaches in the program.

The Redskins open the regular season at home Thursday against Bethany Christian.



Redskin schedule

Aug. 21 — Bethany H

Aug. 23 — Redskin Round Robin

Aug. 25 — Central T

Aug. 28 — Westview T

Sep. 2 — Warsaw T

Sep. 4 — Northridge H

Sep. 5 — Fairfield H

Sep. 9 — Wawasee T

Sep. 11 — NorthWood H

Sep. 13 — Warsaw Invitational

Sep. 16 — Concord H

Sep. 18 — Plymouth T

Sep. 22 — Memorial H

Sep. 25 — NLC at Warsaw

Sep. 27 — NLC at Wawasee

Sep. 30 — Jimtown T

Oct. 2-4 — Sectional at Goshen