Seasoned senior core carries Marauders’ girls tennis ladder

Senior Hope Tuma dives for a volley during practice Monday, Feb. 25. Tuma is one of six returning seniors for the Mingus Union High School girls tennis team, from whom head coach Andrea Meyer expects a state placer this season.
George Werner/Larson Newspapers

Andrea Meyer expects the unexpected this spring as head girls tennis coach at Mingus Union High School.

“It’s going to be a year like never before,” she said. “We’ve never had six seniors in the top six before.”

That ladder of strong experience could take the Marauders a rung or more up from the first-round exits in straight sets that seniors Bethany Hickey, Courtnee Weaver and Lauren Nevitt experienced last April at the Division III state singles and doubles tournaments.

“Last year, there were measurable gaps between skill levels of players,” said Hickey, projected to be the Marauders’ No. 1 singles player. “This year, we’re pretty much even across the ladder.”

Carol Curran, Jordan Scalf and Hope Tuma form, with Hickey, Weaver and Nevitt, as experienced a top of the girls tennis ladder as there is in Division III.  

“We’ve been playing together, most of us, for four years now,” Hickey said. “We know the strokes. We’re going to shock everyone this year.”

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Feb. 26, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.

George Werner

Exit mobile version