“There is always a team that surprises people, but hopefully that will be us this year.”
— Kevin Plank
LHS Head Girls’ Tennis Coach
Lennox High School’s head coach, Kevin Plank, is prepared to help lead the LHS girls’ tennis into the 23-24 tennis season, slated to begin this Friday, Aug. 11.
Coach Plank enters his seventh year at the helm. Last season the Orioles finished an impressive eighth place as team at the State A Tournament.
While the team bid farewell to two senior players from the varsity lineup, Coach Plank remains optimistic, stating, “We have some returning players with experience and other athletic players that are out this year that can hopefully fill those voids.”
The team’s overall experience and depth are expected to be a major strength this season. Coach Plank emphasizes the importance of every match, noting that while there might be a few stronger teams, there is no clear-cut top team, leaving room for thrilling encounters throughout the fall.
When asked about the teams to beat, Coach Plank mentions opponents such as St. Thomas More, Rapid City Christian, and Sioux Falls Christian. However, he also acknowledges Pierre and Huron as consistent contenders, adding, “There is always a team that surprises people, but hopefully that will be us this year”.
The roster boasts returning starters, including Madison Buehner, Brooklyn Buehner, Grace Dressen, Brooklyn Glenn, Kathryn Loewe, and Miriam Welch all helping to provide the team with a strong foundation.
Other athletes on the team for the Orioles include Paxton Dubbelde, Mackenzie Gilland, Maren Juffer, Lily Kezar, Allison Loewe, McKenzie Ritenour, Rebeka Schroeder, Macy Wallenstein, Sierra Wesseling, and Effie Wildeboer.
“Even though we lost two seniors on varsity, I think we’ll still be competitive with a lot of teams,” said Coach Plank. “We do have some good experience and tough competitors, so we might just surprise a few teams this year.”
As the excitement builds up for the upcoming season, the Lennox High School girls’ tennis team is ready to face any challenges that come their way. With a mix of seasoned players and talented newcomers, they are determined to make their mark on the courts.
The team’s season opens up with a quadrangular at Harrisburg High School on Friday, Aug. 11. Action begins at 9 a.m. Play continues on Saturday, Aug. 12 beginning at 10 a.m.
The Orioles will compete in the Madison Invitational on Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19. They will be at Kuehn Park in Sioux Falls on Aug. 21 taking on Sioux Falls Roosevelt at 12 p.m. and Brandon Valley at 2 p.m. A match-up against Sioux Falls Christian on Aug. 29 at Tomar Park in Sioux Falls wraps up their August action.
Comentários