by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette
The Wolves with rackets had it pretty nice atop the Olympic League mountain for quite some time.
This spring, as with last season, Sequim’s girls tennis squad has some climbing to do.
The perennial league champs slipped to 5-7 last season and after losing their top singles player (Kyla Hall) to graduation, the Wolves are looking to reload.
Not that the cupboard is empty, says Sequim coach Mark Textor.
State qualifying doubles duo Katrina Chan and Stacy Hanson, both juniors, are back. In 2010, the pair went 8-2 in the regular season, won the Olympic League tourney crown and took second at districts.
Despite their 0-2 finish at state, Chan and Hanson took both of their competitors to a full three sets.
Also back are senior Serena Okamoto and sophomore Hillary Smith, who advanced to districts last season after going 3-1 as a doubles duo in the regular season.
Sophomore Anna Prorok and junior Jessica Defilippo, both returnees, give the Wolves some depth.
But this year is marked by another infusion of youth, as 24 of Sequim’s 32 players are underclassmen — 11 freshmen and 13 sophomores.
Sequim’s Anna Prorok lunges for a shot in her season-opening win against Hannah Phillips and the North Mason Bulldogs on March 16. Prorok topped Phillips 6-1, 6-0. Sequim Gazette photo by Micheal Dashiell
“We’re very young; it’s a great sign for the future,” Textor says.
“I love our freshman class. They don’t have any experience in tennis but they’re fast learners. We have some athleticism.”
Textor said he expects contributions from freshmen Samantha Baker and Melanie Guan.
The Sequim coach says he figures the top teams in the league to be Kingston and North Kitsap. League foe Klahowya placed second at the state 2A tournament last fall.
