Boys tennis readies for the season

The boys tennis team currently has nine players on their roster, but would love to add more so they can fill the slate. Players are fairly young and new to the sport, so it will be a building year for the Outlaws.

Junior Jude Parzybok and sophomore Dominic Pulver are top returning players. Pulver placed sixth at District last year and barely missed going to state. Both Pulver and Parzybok have very strong first serves, but their biggest weapons are their forehands at the baseline. They will play individually at No. 1 or No. 2 singles, and also team up together as a doubles duo at the No. 1 spot.

Coach Vince Grace said, “Both Dominic and Jude have strong fundamentals for the game of tennis, and watching them play will be fun. They will be combining their strengths as a strong No. 1 doubles team this year, which will be new for them. If they can dial in consistent strokes, both play smart, and support each other to work hard as a team, then they will be a force at Districts and beyond.”

Senior Dylan Rundle is back for his final year and is the team captain. Grace stated that Rundle is very coachable, and provides leadership skills that will help grow the team. He will most likely play doubles, but a partner is yet to be determined.

Rundle said, “What makes this sport so compelling is the fact that it is equal parts of a physical game, a technical game, and a mind game. You win if you have the ability to critically think and analyze the game, and if you are persistent enough to think through the current situation quickly enough to know what to do, and be able to perform the necessary moves and counter moves.”

Grace was impressed with the improvement of Jack Murray, who returns as a sophomore player.

“Even in his time off visiting India, Jack didn’t stop playing tennis,” said Grace. “He took his racket with him, worked hard by playing as time allowed, and is noticeably a newly improved player. He is a guy that has a love of the game and has new improved tennis skills under his belt to show for it.”

Toban Bionda (junior) returns as a doubles player. Joining the team this year are junior Miguele Zarza, sophomore Weston Dean, and freshmen Finn Stancliff and Liam Hubbell. All of them are expected to play doubles, but partners have yet to be decided.

Grace said, “Most of our players are new to the game, and we should have a great building season. We love having new players because they bring new energy of wanting to have fun while learning a game you can play all your life.

“Our worst enemy right now is the snow-covered courts and more inclement weather to come, with our first game just over a week away,” added Grace.

The Outlaws hope to kick off their season at home on Monday, March 11, against Crook County. A day later they are scheduled to host Bend High. On Thursday, they will play at Mountain View in their third match of the week.