The season is off to a good start for the Lake Orion High School Girls Varsity Tennis Team, as head coach Jody Winkleman said her players are excited and anxious to start winning matches.
“The excitement is just contagious,” she said. “They enjoy the game and their teammates so much.”
The Dragons return five seniors to the 2003 varsity squad: Catharina Cramer, Christina Rogers, Kaitlyn Sundt, Kristin Sutter and Erica Vandekerckhove.
Also returning are juniors Heather Picklo, who didn’t start on varsity last season but was bumped up later in the year; and Jenny Guy, who also saw some varsity time last season.
Sophomores on varsity this season are Veronica Topolewski, Kristin Limback and Sara Doelle.
Sophomore Vanessa Fonbuena is new to the team, and has only been playing tennis for three months but is doing well, according to Winkleman. Also new to the squad this year is senior Caroline Swierszczyk.
“We have 12 on (varsity), and they had a great week of tryouts and practice,” Winkleman said. “We have a full schedule again this season with scrimmages and tournaments.”
The Dragons finished fourth last year, and will focus this season on improving that ranking.
“The competition remains tough, but we’ll be working to finish higher,” said Winkleman. “There’s a lot of potential with the top singles and doubles players…it depends on how well they compete and use their practice time.”
Many of the players on varsity this year logged time on the courts over the summer, and it shows.
“We had a tennis camp…we lost seven starters from last year’s varsity, but we have 32 on junior varsity and varsity this year. It’s an even split between upper and lower classmen.”
Winkleman has asked her players to turn their attention this season to the details of their physical game and tough mental games.
“They’re at the level where if they make small changes and work on them, they’ll go up a level,” she said. “Their strength right now is their mental game for sure, and their ability to support each other.”
Winkleman hopes the team will walk away having had a rewarding experience this season.
“Especially for those who won’t be back next year,” she added. “We’re hoping the younger kids take advantage of the leadership from the upperclassmen, and that the upperclassmen step up and take charge of that leadership role. We have a big sister, young sister program in effect this season.”