Coach elevates Wildcat program
It’s something of an understatement to say that, as far as high school tennis goes, Mt. Spokane boys coach Roger Taylor is a guy who sees the big picture.
Taylor returned to the Wildcats to coach this season after two springs at East Valley, which followed six at Mt. Spokane. But that’s not what makes him something of a tennis visionary.
“Tennis players are a weird breed,” he said. “They’re all about promoting the sport and the lifestyle. It’s a cheap and healthy alternative to other sports. Giving back to the community seems to be an important value for them, both on and off the court.
“At Mt. Spokane, my guys are going to work with others because someone worked with them. That’s what I teach. It’s rewarding, and it builds the sport.”
That’s a view that Mt. Spokane’s No. 1 player, Nick McMurray, certainly shares.
“Tennis is an easy sport for lots of people to pick up,” he said, “and Roger does everything he can for tennis. You mention his name to anyone who plays in Spokane, and they all know him.”
McMurray started playing in eighth grade, and Taylor’s attitude is, if you’re playing in middle school, you should be playing when you get to high school. So he did.
“Freshman year was so good,” he said. “It was hard when Roger left after that season for East Valley, but one good thing about him is that he still worked with us any time we wanted to hit and would help us whenever we wanted. He was like our second coach in that way.”
Taylor prides himself not only on building the sport, but on building programs. East Valley had canceled its season the year before he took that position for lack of numbers and had 35 players last spring. Mt. Spokane’s numbers declined while he was gone but are now up to 40.
Taylor works in alternative education at Deer Park High School, and the long drive to East Valley every day cut too deeply into his coaching time there, he said, so when the Mt. Spokane position opened again, he was eager to return.
“How I measure my success is growing the program,” he said. “All the kids who could have returned out here have, and to me that means I’m doing my job.”
When Taylor arrived at Mt. Spokane in 2000, the Wildcats had no organized off-season program, but now eight of his top 10 play at North Park Racquet Club during the winter, and six of them are ranked at the United States Tennis Association junior level.
McMurray, for example, hits year-round although his commitment to the River City soccer club U-19 team sometimes makes that difficult.
“You have to be really dedicated to be successful in this sport,” he said. “There are some guys who take lessons. Personally, I’d rather play matches, so I pick up games whenever and wherever I can, against anyone who wants to play.
“I would really like to play tennis in college if I can. I’m hoping to attend the University of Washington. But I know that even if I don’t play in college, I’m going to be playing no matter what. You can play tennis forever.”
The Wildcats have a solid corps of returning players besides McMurray, including Zac Caldwell, Jon Macinni, Jarrad Dahl and Steven Harms. Taylor cites the opportunity to work with those players, with whom he began working even before they got to high school, as one of the perks of his return to Mt. Spokane.
“Although I’ve been around them informally and at camps, it’s pretty special to be back,” he said. “They all have a great work ethic in practice, and they’re outstanding young men. They have high standards for themselves and have helped make it a great transition for me.”
Last spring, six of Mt. Spokane’s top seven qualified for the state 3A regional tournament, so McMurray’s individual goal, to make it to state, is the logical next step. His goal for the team, of course, is to win the Greater Spokane League – with an undefeated record, by the way.