By Megan Kelley

Review Writer

The boys varsity tennis team is back in action this season with a shortened schedule due to COVID-19. On Thursday, the Dragons took on Rochester High School at home but ultimately succumbed to the Falcons prowess after losing eight of the nine matches.

“We are three and five. We started off the season in a rough patch,” Bracciano said before the match. “One of my coaches had COVID-19 so we had to shut down our program for two weeks. So, we’ve been kind of behind the eight ball for the good part of the season.”

Lake Orion High School’s boys tennis season is eight weeks, and after losing two of those, went down to a six week season.

“We’ve been playing catch up ever since then,” Bracciano said.

Last season, the boys finished in the middle of the pack and head coach Eric Bracciano expects the same this season despite having a shortened season.

“The goal was to finish toward the top of the league. Based on where we’re at right now, we’ll probably finish (middle) or on the lower end. We have some pretty quality teams this year,” said Bracciano. “Expectations were definitely a little higher this year, but I would say right now, we’re not living up to the expectation that I certainly had…it’s unfortunate to say but it’s the truth. I don’t think we’re living up to where I believe we were at.”

As high school sports proceed during this season, several guidelines and protocols have been put into place as safety measures against COVID-19.

While many students must play their respectable sports in masks, tennis is not one of them.

“I have to give the kids a lot of credit. They’ve done a great job with that (COVID-19 protocol). There’s been no complaining, no issues with that. We even had to play a match in a mask so that was kind of a new thing,” Bracciano said.

The Dragons take on the Rochester Adams Highlanders at LOHS on Tuesday after Review press time