Game, set, match!

The boys’ and girls’ tennis teams have had great seasons this year with seniors Kristen Groninger and Michella Douglas, and junior Jimmie Walker remaining undefeated all season. The girls participated in their district championship match on Thursday, May 6, and the team has multiple players from both teams that will be participating in the district individual tournament.

Walker and Groninger take place as the top players in the boys’ and girls’ individual tournaments, and the team of Douglas and junior Krysani Hogg take top seed in the girls’ double tournament.

The seniors have taken a great leadership role this year in helping the newer players.

“The seniors have been instrumental in the training of the new players,” head coach Brad Kovach said. “Often the seniors will help run drills, offer tips on form and strategy, and serve as positive role models for the underclassmen.”

Although the seniors graduate this year, a number of players seem ready and able to step into the leadership role. The team will be needing these players as they get use to a new coach after Kovach leaves Bartlett High School to teach at Cayman International school in the Cayman Islands next school year.

The team has improved much over the course of the season, but this comes across as normal for most tennis players.

“Tennis is one of those sports that can be hard to keep up with in the off-season,” Kovach said. “As a result, the experience players receive during the season is very evident as the season progresses.”

Three girls participated in the state tournament last year, and the team hopes to send a few more this year. Kovach has shown excellent coaching and seems assured that the team will carry on the Panther’s winning tradition into the next season.