Tennis
Tennis team looks for a repeat of last year
By Jeremy Hite, Yapper sports editor
Aug 27, 2005 - 4:05:00 PM

The CHS tennis team looks to continue their run of dominance over district 6-AAAA this fall.

Last fall the Jackets suffered only one defeat, at the hands of Mansfield, and went undefeated in district play, and this fall Coach Stacey Foster is looking for more of the same.

"We were favored to win district last year, and we should be favored to win it again this year," Coach Foster said.

The Jackets lost only two senior girls from last year's team, and only three from the boy's side. The girls side appears to be set, returning a team that virtually made up the whole of the all-district team, while the boys team has a few small question marks.

Losing three of the top five boys from last year's team and replacing them with sophomores Matt Morris and Dustin Kinniard, and freshman Will Holleman. Coach Foster remains confident in his young player’s abilities.

"It’s always tough to lose players, but I believe that our guys can compete on this level," Coach Foster said.

Working in new players isn't enough to keep Coach Foster's expectations down. After being bumped out of the first round of the regional tournament last year, Coach Foster believes this team can make it a lot further than that.

"Our goal this year is to win the district and go to the regional quarterfinals," Coach Foster said.

Coach Foster certainly has the players to accomplish his preseason goal, returning all-district players on almost the entire girls side and the 2004 district 6-AAAA MVP, Nathan Hood. Hood not only has high hopes for himself but, like Foster, has high hopes for the team.

"I want to win the district, go to regionals, dominate the field, and win another MVP," Hood said.

Hood could also help Coach Foster break in the team's new players, as a leader on and off the tennis court.

"I want to lead by example, and be someone that the guys can look up to," Hood said.

The young boys will need help from both Hood and the other seniors on this team in order to be successful.

The Jackets season started with a win at Boswell on Thursday, but the team suffered a setback at Mansfield on Friday.

CHS should expect the same results this year as last year.