Ferris, Mead, Gp Considered Favorites In Girls Tennis

Tennis tends to be a have and have-not sport among Greater Spokane League high schools. Players either have or don’t have club experience. And teams with club players have more success.

Ferris, Gonzaga Prep and Mead are considered league favorites this year. Other teams have a good time and hope for a few wins.

“We start over from scratch every year,” said Rogers coach Barb Silvey, half joking. “They play because I’m fun to be around, not because they are tennis players.”

The Pirates have a turnout of 41 girls, all of them in other activities, including advanced drama students, cheerleaders and a regionally recognized musician.

The entire team, said Silvey, will run Bloomsday in tennis attire.

“I want to make it fun,” said Silvey, while also stressing a certain amount of seriousness. “They can’t just giggle all the time when they’re playing.”

The Pirates return half a dozen players from last year’s team.

Included is No. 1 singles player Anne Courtney, a near 4.0 student entered in the college Running Start program.

“She’s the only true player we have,” said Silvey. “It’s amazing what she does, she’s so driven.”

Joining her are fellow senior Rena Aubrey and juniors Amanda Hutchinson, Bonnie Holland, Katie Kittilstved and Maranatha Schaffer.

Others are juniors Elise Burger, Kristin Adams, sophomores Linh Truong, Dawn Sisk, Lien Lau, Arlea Wills, Nicole Hutches, Amber Johnson and Stevie Southerland.

The Pirates have a combined cumulative grade point average of 3.75.

“They may not be the greatest athletes on the planet,” said Silvey. “But they’re so smart.”

Different look for runnerup

Mead Unlike last year’s second-place season, Mead’s girls won’t rely on its singles game this time around.

“We’re stronger everywhere else this year,” said coach Al Rettmann.

Senior singles players Jenny Schiffner and Katy Scheurmer, doubles players Jeannine Wallach, Collette Dixon, Jill Thompson and Jessica Rentschke are the veterans.

Newcomers are juniors Jennifer Deitering, Walla Walla transfer Marit Vagstad, Rachel Swinyard, sophomores Amanda Driscol, Lindsay Wagstaff and Mindy Wallis.

“We have a lot of real good sophomores and freshman coming up,” said Rettmann. “We should be in contention.”

Bulldogs deeper than a year ago

Gonzaga Prep lost a top singles player and doubles team from last year’s third-place squad.

But this year’s team is so deep, coach Donna Lenseigne says the Bullpups can compete.

“Our players have more possibilities to go from singles to doubles, and our team will be stronger because of it,” she said.

Seniors Vanessa Waldress, Jennifer Blair, Kara Clavios and Allie Powers are all North Side athletes.

“Allie could play both singles or doubles this year,” Lenseigne says. Other candidates are seniors Jennie Beyer, Erin Janosky, Krista Kubiak, Kendra Leyda, juniors Alecia Nelson, Wendy Lynn, sophomores Anna Carroll, Molly Maixner and freshman Lisa VanGemert.

NC six players strong

In a sport that needs 10 players to fill its Girls tennis, lineup, North Central is short on depth.

“We have six quality players who can hold their own,” said coach Jack Shagool. “Below that, we’re not real strong.”

The six are fourth-year player Sarah Menard, juniors Katrina Straub, Betsy Crosby and senior Vicki Overfield who play singles.

Junior Beth White and senior Kim Dayot are veteran doubles players.

They were members of a team involved in five 4-3 losses last year.

“Shadle Park, Rogers and us are non-club teams, we always fight it out and if we finish higher (than others), it’s a gift,” said Shagool.

Remaining varsity spots will be filled by senior Katie Bixby, juniors Holly Carnahan, Wendy Mueler, sophomores Meoldy Harris, Danelle Bourne, Emily Burda or freshmen Rebecca Saville or Angie Dombrese.

Shadle looking to move up

Although last year’s number one player Becky Trefts transferred to Northwest Christian, coach Kevin Trim said Shadle is improved.

“We are better,” he said. “I’m anticipating better results.”

Many of last year’s players went to camp and hit the ball more in preseason. Like NC, four of Shadle’s losses were 4-3.

Senior Dani Harwood is Trim’s current No. 1 player, although Katie Boileau and freshman Lisa Trefts, Becky’s sister, will contend.

Senior Melisa Carter, juniors Jen Meyers, Courtney Drennon, Becky Wells and sophomores Michelle Etter and Elizabeth Liddell have top 10 potential.

Sophomores Becca Ganyo, Taryn Minatre and Jackie Wilbert are other varsity contenders.

, DataTimes