Hopeful outlook

As the first day of spring arrived this week, so did the expectations for winning for the Medical Lake boys tennis team.

The perennial champions of the Great Northern League are out to defend their league title and will rely heavily on the talents and leadership of senior Dallon Bogart and junior Max Nelson.

“It’s really nice to win, but our coach, his motto is there’s life after tennis,” said Nelson, whose older brother, Zac, won a state singles title for the Cardinals.

“Every year they get new recruits and practice over the summer and have marathons. Every year it’s passed down, so it’s a pretty great tradition.”

Nelson, who finished fourth in state in No. 1 singles last season, hopes to improve upon that performance this year. The junior has grown almost five inches in height from 5-foot-6 to 5-11, helping improve one of the weaker parts of his game.

“I think his biggest improvement, he’s been kind of struggling on his serve, and he’s worked on that hard,” said Cardinal coach Leroy Lemaster. “He’s been going into the club since last fall and that was one of the biggest things he wanted to really work on.

“He’s grown a little taller, and I think that’s going to help in on the angle of the ball. When you’re a little taller, that angle gets better for you.”

Nelson, who is a 4.0 grade-point-average student, is a quiet leader who leads by example. His performance at last year’s state tournament in Yakima also showed his tenacity.

“Last year, he went in singles and ended up fourth, but he was injured the first match out,” Lemaster said. “He hurt his right knee and took … skin out about the size of a nickel.

“Then he hit his head against a metal post on the side. He lost his balance going after a ball. There was dirt on the court, he slipped and went full blast into the fence.

“It didn’t knock him clear out, but it did cut him above his ear.”

“I remember the very first match I injured myself and had to forfeit it and go to the hospital,” Nelson said. “I tripped and fell in a fence and blacked out for a little bit.

“That was weird. It was just a mild one (concussion). I won the next two matches.”

Nelson then got a blood blister on his serving hand thumb.

“He served underhanded the whole time, and hit forehand lobs and backhand slice shots,” LeMaster said. “That was his total game.

“He usually hits two-handed on forehands and backhands. Most kids would have folded right there. He still came back and got fourth.

“Max has got a lot of heart. He’s mentally tough, and he loves the game.”

As for Bogart, the senior captain gets his love for the game honestly.

“My mom played in a 5.0-ranked circuit in Virginia, so she had a lot of influence on me,” said Bogart, who will challenge Nelson for the No. 1 and 2 singles spots on the Cardinals. “My grandfather also played tennis his whole life, so he influenced me.

“Basically, my whole family played tennis.”

Bogart’s grandfather is none other than his head coach at Medical Lake.

“I started throwing balls at Dallon when he was 4 years old,” said Lemaster. “He was just one of those kids who just loved it at 4.

“He’d hit balls for an hour if I didn’t get tired.

“This is our fourth year,” Lemaster continued. “It’s tough for me sometimes, but I just told Dallon, ‘You’re my grandson, but also my tennis player, and that’s how I’ll treat you on the court.’

“He’s gone along with it well. Sometimes you expect more out of your son or grandson or granddaughter, so I’ve had to try to hold those feelings back every once in a while. He’s a kid like the rest of them.

“I want all my kids to have fun playing the game. I always tell them there’s life after tennis.

“This year he is my captain. He’s earned that, and the kids are fine with it. He’s a senior now, and he’s gone through the program.”

Bogart, who’s been a varsity performer since his freshman year, wants to help his team attain the state championship level the Cardinals won two years ago.

“I’m just going to work hard,” Bogart said. “A lot of the freshmen, they don’t think they’re good enough, but they don’t realize that when they’re juniors and seniors, they’re going to be really good and a great asset to the team.

“We’ve got more of a team that’s learning this year, but we’re still strong. I really want our team to get first place.

“I think we have a really good chance of first in state again. It would be nice to finish out my senior year with the team getting first.

“I’d also love to get first or second in singles, too. That would be really nice.”