Young Greencastle squad gears up for tennis season

Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Members of the 2007 Greencastle girls' tennis team include (front, from left) Katie Kean, Kayla Birt, Savannah Provine, Ashley Holmes, Carol LaFoe, Rachel Jackson, (middle) Katie Collins, Aubrey Merrell, Christina Moore, Kate Babbington, Ashley Watkins, Briana Martin, Bridget Tucker, Jordan Karch, Hilary Schroeder, Melissa Ball, (back) Coach Trish Lowe, Mgr. Erick Warren, Mgr. Sam Hirt, Emma Kaiser, Kristen Flint, Rena Warren, Kelsey Hennette, Brittany Elliott, Megan Schroeder and Mgr. Brennan Burks.

Sports Writer

GREENCASTLE -- Greencastle tennis coach Trish Lowe has a lot of questions to be answered as the 2007 tennis season approaches. The first of many being, who will play on the varsity.

Lowe welcomes a young crop of talent to the courts and is hopeful that senior leadership and some athletic freshmen can make an impact.

"I think there are younger sophomores and juniors from last year's group, some of them could step into some of those seven varsity spots," Lowe said.

"The freshmen we have, I think all played soccer, so they're pretty good athletes," Lowe continued.

The one issue Lowe reiterated was the uncertainty of her lineup.

"I can predict my number one player, Kelsey Hennette, but for everyone else -- it's a free-for-all," she said.

Hennette will also be a part of something Lowe believes the team will have to have to be a success -- leadership. When asked who she would look to to take on that role, she put that in the hands of two of her seniors.

"I think Kayla Birt and Rena Warren. They are good leaders and they have been already this season," Lowe said.

Others looking to break into the varsity lineup this season will include a third senior, Christina Moore, juniors Kristen Flint, Rachel Jackson, Emma Kaiser, Jordan Karch, Carol LaFoe, Briana Martin, Savannah Provine, and Ashley Watkins.

Sophomore hopefuls will be Brittany Elliot, Katie Kean, Aubrey Merrell, and Bridget Tucker, while Kate Babbington, Melissa Ball, Katie Collins, Ashley Holmes and Hilary Schroeder are freshmen on the team.

Lowe commented that tennis in the area is a mixed bag, but thinks her team will be in the hunt.

"We are typically middle of the road," she said. "We'll have some success. Our goal is to be .500, but realistic for us would be seven wins."

When asked thoughts on her team's strongest aspect, Lowe summed it up in a word -- attitude.

"For the most part, they want to learn a new sport. They want to be successful.

"This is a nice group of people," she added.

Greencastle will begin its season April 10 by hosting South Putnam at 4:30 p.m.

Lowe is keeping an optimistic eye on the horizon.

"It will be interesting," she said.

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