Two straight district titles have the Republic girls tennis team at a high point in the program’s history. But the Lady Tigers will have to replace some key components of those championship teams if they want a three-peat. Samantha Minor, Meagan McCord, Rebecca Ledford, and Sierra Watts graduated from last year’s team. Minor and McCord in particular were anchors at the top of the lineup last season.
Coach Eric Hanson says this year’s team isn’t exactly inexperienced, but they bring a different kind of experience to the court.
“It’s a question mark right now, because we do return a lot of varsity players, but we also lost a lot of people who had been in leadership positions in varsity roles for four years. You’re replacing a four-year letter winner with a one-year letter winner,” Hanson says.
Danielle Hopkins will slide up the ladder from #3 to #1 on the depth chart. Hanson says he likes what he’s seen from her so far.
“She’s been on the varsity all four years,” he says. “She had a good offseason. She’s added some wrinkles to her game.”
Behind Hopkins, Michayla Moore figures to fill the #2 spot. Hanson says despite being a relative newcomer to tennis, she’s progressed quickly to earn his confidence.
Other returners include Ta’lor Sandul, Ashley Cameron, and Tori Geisler, with Brittany Thompson set to join the varsity squad.
Hopkins and Moore will form the first-string doubles team after qualifying for sectionals last year. Hanson says they’re playing well together as the season approaches.
“The others are getting there, but again, you’re asking young players to get out of their comfort zone and play something they don’t really have a lot of experience playing yet, so we’ve been working on that for quite a while now,” he says.
Despite the questions, Hanson says he thinks a third straight district title is a possibility for the Lady Tigers.
“I think we’re back in the mix. I can’t say what the other teams are going to look like, and I don’t worry about it because I can’t control that, but I think with the talent we have, and the work ethic we have, we have a very real chance of playing for a championship.”