Enthusiasm on the courts

Ray Peterson can wait to see the results of his efforts as coach of the Central Valley boys tennis team.

“I look at it this way,” he said. “If 20 years from now, some of these kids still go out and hit tennis balls on the weekend or play tennis with their kids, then I’ll have done my job.”

And if he can field a competitive team in the Greater Spokane League at the same time, so much the better.

“I’m as competitive as the next guy,” the longtime coach said. “I want to win more than the next guy. But to be realistic, I’m here to teach.”

With the exception of a few schools in the GSL, most high school tennis coaches are in the same boat with Peterson – there to introduce the game to a group of enthusiastic players who, usually, haven’t played the game before turning out for the school team.

“There’s Mead, Gonzaga Prep, Lewis and Clark and Ferris – those schools will get players who have already played the game and have had tennis lessons before they get there,” Peterson said. “We don’t see that.”

“The thing is, we get great kids coming out to play,” West Valley coach Clay Nelson said. “I’ve got seniors who have never played before turning out. They don’t have a chance of making the varsity, but they’re playing for love of the game. How can you not enjoy kids like that?”

Central Valley Bears

Last year was the exception at Central Valley when a group of exchange students, all experienced players, turned out to play tennis. The group earned the nickname “The Foreign Legion.”

“There’s no Foreign Legion this year,” Peterson laughed. “In fact, (the boys) are going to be in a little bit of a rebuilding mode this year.”

Still, the Bears won three of their first four boys matches

Junior Jarred Watson survived a push from senior Zac Vidmar to play No. 1 singles. Junior Jon Micheau is a steady No. 3 singles and senior Jeremy Funk a solid No. 4.

Sophomores Bryce Kingsley and Ryan Grimmett are the squad’s top doubles team.

Girls coach Stan Chalich has 54 girls on his squad, led by seniors Rochelle Moore, Ashley Murphy and Katie Weller, the team’s top three singles players, respectively.

Senior Brooke Severs and junior Sierra Foutch are the team’s top doubles team, followed by juniors Samantha Kern and Kira Thompson.

“We’ve got some experience to work with,” Chalich said. “I think we can be okay.”

East Valley Knights

Last year East Valley disbanded its boys tennis team because of low turnout. This year Mike Smith expands his duties to be head coach for both boys and girls programs.

“It’s a challenge,” he said of the added duties. “Instead of being responsible for six courts during practice, for example, I’m now in charge of 12.

“But at the same time, we’ve been able to expand some of our drills to include both the boys and girls and have done a few team-building things. I think that’s helped.”

Smith welcomed 16 players on the boys squad – up considerably from last year’s initial turnout.

Japanese exchange student Shige Okano is the team’s No. 1 singles player, followed by senior Chris Miclat.

First-year senior Jake Mehren is a surprise No. 3 singles.

“He’s a new kid on the team and, basically, he just got into the game,” Smith said. “His girlfriend is on the girls team, and I guess that’s why he turned out, but he has a pretty good knack for the game.”

Smith returns his No. 1 singles player from last year, senior Katie Lund, and has a solid girls squad.

“Katie is an all-around athlete,” Smith said. “She plays volleyball and she’s a manager for the wrestling team. I think she can be very successful this season. She’s a smart player. She’s not a club player, but she holds her own against the players who are.”

Sophomore Jessica Casebier is No. 2 singles, followed by senior Erika Cabbage, who played doubles a year ago.

Bettie Taylor and Jessie Labrie, both seniors, play No. 1 doubles.

“They’re really showing a lot of good senior leadership,” Smith said. “They’re playing the game like we want them to. They’re good role models, even though this is their first year together.”

University Titans

The Titans are the exception – both boys and girls squads boast club players.

Junior Josh Steele begins his second season as the No. 1 boys singles player.

“I think it really helps to have a club player like Josh at No. 1,” boys coach Heidi Greenwood said. “He’s able to be a leader and he’s able to help his teammates out.

“He has his own tennis teacher and his dad is my assistant coach, so I don’t have to do very much with him – I don’t want to interfere with what his club coach is doing with his game.”

Junior Carlos Campos fell in love with the game after playing on the junior varsity last year. He played in and won a several tournaments over the winter and enters the season as the No. 2 singles player.

Greenwood expects to see her doubles teams change throughout the season.

“Our doubles tree is constantly changing with challenge matches,” she said. “Brian Frederickson, a sophomore, and Taylor Hendrickson, a freshman, started the season as No. 1 doubles, but we’ve already changed that all around. Right now, we have Brian playing with Jay Martin at No. 1 doubles. Steven Cutter and Chris Mayhew are No. 2 and Taylor is playing with Andrew Robinson at No. 3. But that will probably change.”

Girls coach Julene Osborn has a deep squad of 35 players, but the top four singles spots currently are held by three juniors and a sophomore, and two juniors, a sophomore and a freshman start on the top two doubles teams.

Junior Kamin Alteneder, who played doubles the past two seasons, starts at No. 1 singles, followed by junior Laura Woodard, sophomore Allie Tavish and junior Olivia Sanchez.

Juniors Ashley Miles and Lisa Lowrie are the top doubles team, followed by sophomore Katie Tenney and freshman Hailey Parrish playing at No. 2. Seniors Kelsey Fuher and Lisa Collison make up the No. 3 doubles team.

“We have a couple of young club players out,” Osborn said. “Any time you see a freshman like Hailey make the team, they have to have some experience coming in. And Allie made varsity as a freshman last year.

“That allows them to make an even bigger contribution to the team.”

West Valley Eagles

Junior Kara Kazemba, last year’s No. 1 singles player has struggled with lupus the past few tennis seasons, but this year the disease has made playing tennis too painful.

“She’s such a great kid and she’s struggled through the pain the last couple years,” girls coach Clay Nelson said. “But now it’s settled in her hips and it’s made playing just too painful. She tried (Thursday) night – not in the match, but just getting out there and playing and it was too much.

“She’s still going to be a part of the team, and I know it’s just going to kill her inside to have to stand by and watch her teammates play.”

Junior Melody Dossey, last year’s No. 2 singles player and a regional tournament qualifier, moves up to the top spot.

“She’s finally found a style of play that suits her and works for her,” Nelson said. “She’s a volleyball player and she’s pretty tall and athletic. She’s tried staying back at the baseline and hitting with opponents, but those smaller girls will just kill you if you try to do that.

“She’s attacking the net more and has a great serve. It’s really working for her. You don’t see that style a lot with girls tennis.”

Senior Tansy Daugherty and junior Nicole Philen play No. 1 doubles.

Boys coach Jamie Nilles has a strong squad that can challenge for the top Class 3A playoff berth.

“I think we can compete with Clarkston – that’s the team to beat,” he said. “They have the most kids back.”

Senior Glen Water, the No. 1 singles player, senior Chris Gange and junior Tim Griner all return from last year.

Senior Mac Coyle and junior Nate Thomas make up the No. 1 doubles squad.