Girls tennis returns strong squad

The Outlaws girls tennis team returns eight veteran players to their squad this season and will add 13 additional players, several of whom have previous tennis experience.

Two senior players, Shelbi Thompson and Paige Tosello, are co-team captains and will provide leadership and four years of varsity experience to the team.

Thompson was a state finisher in doubles play with partner Paige Tosello last season. Tosello is out for the season due to injury and Thompson will most likely play at the No. 1 singles spot. Shelbi is an all-around skilled tennis player with excellent ground strokes and backhand and forehand strokes. She is consistent in her volleys and is consistent in achieving accuracy and depth for her serves.

Tosello will return as the team manager. Paige will assist in coaching and mentoring the other players. Coach Marti Dale told The Nugget she and her coaching staff are pleased that Tosello will still be a part of the team.

Haley Hedren rounds out the returning senior players. Hedren is back for a third season and can play both singles and doubles.

"Haley can hit a winner angled or a well-placed volley shot," stated Dale. "We are looking for her to play doubles, and to bring team spirit to the season."

Savannah Spear and Haley Carlson (juniors) will return as the No. 1 doubles team. The duo returns for their third season on the varsity squad. Spear is an aggressive player with good court instincts. She can serve well, has a great net game and brings a natural athleticism to the game. Carlson is consistent at the baseline and a very steady player.

"This returning team had a strong finish at districts last year and just missed going to state by one match," stated Dale. "They are looking very strong going into the season."

Four other players, Hannah Stuwe, Anna Peasley, Angela Todd and Jesse Farr-Baenziger round out the returning veteran players.

Sophomore Stuwe played at the No. 3 singles position last year and returns for her second season. Stuwe is a powerful player with great footwork. She is able to put a tricky spin on the ball in a serve as well as a ground stroke.

"We are looking to round out her (Stuwe's) overall game with some doubles play," said Dale. "She is a motivated player who competes in the off-season to improve her game."

Peasley (junior) played at No. 4 singles last year. Anna is a smart, diligent and patient player who is skilled with her strokes at the baseline and also has a great serve. She had a very successful season last year as a singles player, and the coaching staff will look to build off her solid skills to a doubles position which will improve her game into an all-around tennis player.

Todd (sophomore) returns for a second season and can play both singles and doubles. Angela's strength lies in her serve that comes with a bit of a slice. Dale stated that Todd is a motivated player who is passionate about tennis and uses the game to help balance daily life challenges.

Farr-Baenziger (sophomore), back for her second year, can also play singles and doubles. Dale noted that Jesse is an all-around outstanding player who is quick, agile and consistent with all stokes and skills.

Freshman Kiran Mapes is new to the team but brings with her a solid foundation of tennis skills. Mapes brings with her passion and motivation which she will use to improve her skills and tactics.

Seniors Meghan Connolly, Kira Neil, and Kiley Sheldon, along with freshman Allie Spear and Brenna Weems are expected to bring athleticism, talent and motivation to the team.

Dale said, "These girls' hard work, concentration and motivation to team as demonstrated at the practices are helping them to become stable with their tennis skills. It is apparent they will become successful, strong players during the competitive season."

Eight additional players who have never played tennis before will round out the squad; foreign exchange students Leticia Campos from Brazil and Annika Kudrisch from Germany, sophomores Gwen Knoop and Maya Wieland, freshmen Meghan Ellsworth, Isabella Tara and Emma Tara. These girls all bring enthusiasm to the team and are excited to learn the sport.

Dale and her coaching staff are eager to get their season started.

"We are excited to coach this group of enthusiastic, athletic, motivated young tennis players. We are looking forward to a season focusing developing our new recruits while honing the skills of the returning players to achieve a competitive team with our eyes on a district finish that gets us into the State Playoff Tournament," stated Dale.

The Lady Outlaws are scheduled to play at Crook County on March 14, at 4 p.m.