Boys tennis ready to swing into action

The Outlaws boys tennis team, along with first-year coach Bim Gander, is enthusiastic and ready to hit the courts for another season.

Eight veteran players return to the squad and will provide experience and leadership to the team.

Returning players include Paul Fullhart, Evan Rickards, Devon Calvin, Nathan Kaping, Ethan Stengel, Shawn Horton, Tyrell Gilmore and Trevor Standen.

Juniors Fullhart and Rickards were selected as co-captains and will play important roles on the squad. Fullhart returns as the Outlaws' No.1 singles player and Rickards will play at No. 1 doubles, most likely partnered up with Calvin (junior). Juniors Kaping and Stengel will most likely play at the No. 2 doubles spot. Horton (sophomore) is slated for either No. 3 singles or No. 3 doubles, and Gilmore is projected to play at No. 3 doubles. Standen rounds out the veteran players and will play either No. 3 or No. 4 singles.

Gander stated that Fullhart is a team leader and will most likely be a high-seeded player at the district championships which will be held in Medford later this spring. Bim also noted that the No. 1 doubles team should finish strong.

Nine additional players will join the team for their first season on varsity, including Sol Ling-Scott, Ryan Houston, Jesse Anderson, Levi Anderson, Joel Fisher, Andrew Stengel, Michael Commins, Devon Nichols and Kaleb Ermatinger.

Many players have an idea of where they will play to start the season but Gander told The Nugget that roster positions are subject to change during the course of the season.

Players have had barely two weeks of practice but Gander has been impressed with what he's seen so far.

"Although there has been very little time for practice due to limited court time and the pressure of mid-term finals, the team has already made remarkable progress. Because the team is relatively young, as many of last year's players have graduated, many would think this to be a rebuilding year. It may be that but we expect to be very competitive. The returning players will benefit from their prior experience, and the new players provide a very welcome new talent pool."

The Outlaws were to hit the courts at home at Black Butte Ranch on Tuesday, March 12, against Redmond. The match is set to begin at 4 p.m.