The big question surrounding the Girls’ Tennis Team at Wadsworth High School this year is can they make it back-to-back great seasons. In 2014, the Lady Grizzlies tennis team had a record of 17-2.
This year, there is one big change the Girls’ tennis team and all Wadsworth teams have to face. From Tennis Lessons as teenagers, to playing in the Suburban League, the make-up of the SL has changed. This year, Wadsworth will take on Hudson, Brecksville, Twinsburg, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, North Royalton and Nordonia as members of the “National Division” of the Suburban League.
Head Coach Kristy Nichol says “I think we’re up for the challenge in a new league. Last year, people under-estimated us. We lost five seniors and had almost a whole new squad and had a great season. I’m hoping we have the same one this year”.
While the make-up of this year’s team is not known, Coach Nichol expects somewhere between 35 to 40 girls to try out for the squad. Practice officially starts for the Wadsworth girls’ tennis team on Monday August Third.
Two players that are expected to lead the Wadsworth Girls’ tennis team are seniors Annie Nicholas and Sarah Elfers. Both players have been named as co-captains. Wadsworth has one big advantage this year. They are expecting to have six seniors on this year’s team. Nicholas is expected to play first singles. Elfers is expected to play first team doubles.
Nicholas says “I hope we have just as good a season as we had last year when we were 17-2. We’ll be playing a lot of good teams, strong teams like Hudson. I think we can do it”.
Elfers doesn’t know yet who her doubles partner will be yet. “I played with a senior Abby Tolson last year. I’ll have to wait and see who my partner will be”.
Nichol says they have 22 matches scheduled for this season. “We open the season with two of our toughest opponents, Green and Rocky River. Plus, we have a two-day tournament in Lakewood and the Suburban League Tournament”.
The Lady Grizzlies start the season on August 12th at Rocky River at 10 am. The first match at home will be the next day, August 13th against Green at 10 am. All home matches are played at the courts behind Wadsworth High School.
