New Coach Blessed With Talented Team
Frontier girls tennis
East Valley’s three-time Frontier League winning girls tennis team greeted a new coach when Mike Smith moved from boys junior varsity.
He replaced Aaron Alteneder, who has taken a leave of absence.
“We were always traveling opposite so I have no idea what anybody’s like,” said Smith. “Each time I go to a match I’m introduced to the coach.”
He does know that his girls team has six returning starters and depth of numbers to make the transition easier.
The Knights, 5-1 in pre-season, open defense of their league title on Tuesday with a stern test when they travel against 3-2 West Valley.
Like EV, the Eagles bring back 10 players with experience in the second year of coach Paula Heimbigner’s second incarnation as girls coach. Last year’s team went 5-5 in league.
Besides the veterans, the Eagles have added a talented newcomer and played five others on varsity during the pre-season.
Knights chasing four in a row
EV has a solid base of experience and a large talent pool to work with in its bid for a fourth straight Frontier championship.
“We’ll see what we can do,” said Smith. “We certainly have high hopes of doing it again.”
Among EV veterans are senior all-league Sharon Wentz who, over the past three years, has been the team’s No. 1 or No. 2 singles player.
Joining her in singles from last year’s unbeaten team are juniors Daphne Willmschen, who has lost just twice in two years, and unbeaten all-leaguer Brooke Ruchert. Another junior, Tiffany Claridge, moves up from doubles.
“They are all really quite competitive,” said Smith. “It’s kind of like who’s on, although Sharon is steady and experienced.”
Heading the doubles are the team of Tammy Hill and Lisa Werner that lost just once last year at number three.
Others who will see varsity action are seniors Kelli Buchanan, Hao-Tim Tran, junior Katie Foster and sophomores Angie Kurtz, Jennifer Jenkins, Megan Peters, Elly Smith, Miranda Bales and Katee Lunneborg.
Newcomer, vets strengthen Eagles
Most of a turnout of 28 players have experience, and the addition of freshman Staci Heidenson, hasn’t hurt.
“We have the same kids as last year with the addition of Staci,” said Heimbigner. “She’s got a lot going for her.”
Heidenson’s brother is WV’s No. 1 boys player. She should be No. 1 for the girls.
Veteran singles players are senior all-league players Tiffany Miner and Molly Ormsby, juniors Julie Jones and Jenelle Riehle and sophomore Tiffany McFrederick.
Jones and Riehle also played doubles along with seniors Jennifer Calandro, Sarah Gerein and Jennifer Thielemann and juniors Erica Chasse and Kristie Cleveland.
So far, during a juggled pre-season due to various conflicts, junior Sonja Assing and sophomores Jandi Bawden, Stephanie Hall and Charlie Stensgar have played varsity doubles for a team that could easily have just one loss.
“We should have beat Pullman, but had to mess up our doubles and singles with three girls gone,” said Heimbigner.
She can only hope that strength in numbers ultimately pays off.