After seeing the duo of Tyler Plank and Jaxon Plank win the State title in doubles last year, the Lennox High School tennis team is hoping to continue the success as they head into the 2022 season. The team, however, will have to do so without Tyler Plank, who graduated last spring. Also graduating last year was Layne Lunstra. LHS head coach Kevin Plank knows it will be a challenge when you lose key players from the varsity line up.
“It will be tough to replace our two seniors from last year,” said Coach Plank. “Layne had the experience of being a varsity player for three years and Tyler was the top player from 2021 and won a state title with his brother, Jaxon, in doubles, so they will be missed.”
However, Coach Plank is hopeful that he has the players that will fill those vacant varsity spots so they can keep building on last year’s successes.
“We do have four other varsity players returning and some players who competed very well at the top of the Junior Varsity level last year that will hopefully step in and make an impact,” said Coach Plank.
Returning this season will be Jaxon Plank who will step into the top varsity spot. Jaxon was 22-3 at flight two last year and won two State titles. Also returning with varsity experience are Andrew Daugherty, Cody Plank, Gunnar Geiken and Dason Wilson.
“Hopefully our strength will be in our experience,” said Coach Plank.
Coach Plank’s biggest area of concern is the number of athletes out for the team. Currently there are 35 boys out for tennis and with that large of roster the District is in the process of looking for an assistant coach.
“It will be tough to manage this many players with one or hopefully two coaches and to provide them with the necessary practice time to improve and stay sharp with their game,” said Coach Plank.
Members of the team include seniors Xavier Larson, Dason Wilson; juniors AndrewDaugherty, Camden Faulds, Jaxon Plank; sophomores: Ryan Benning, Ben Bird, Lincoln Ford, Gunnar Geiken, Michael Hall, Alex Heibult, Will Hoppe, Gabe Irwin, Ethan Lundquist, Dayne Muller, Cody Plank, Cian Smith, Pierce Temme, Mitch Van Meeteren, Noah Welch; freshmen Noah Buhta, Corban Hanneman, Chase Faulds, Connor Sherard, Cade Sherard, Palmer Brue; eighth graders: Atticus Larson, Jacob McMath; and seventh graders: Wyatt Holland, Cedric Hurst, Brennen Juffer, Chase Lundquist, Eli Plank, Cameron Smith, and Matthew Dummer.
Coach Plank feels the team will see challenges from Mitchell, Yankton and last year’s State Champion Sioux Falls Christian, as all of those teams will boast solid rosters once again.
But Lennox is looking to be right there and compete with the best of them.
“We are looking to build on last year’s 8-12 record and the team’s fifth place finish at State,” said Coach Plank. “We will have a few new faces at the varsity level but hopefully we can continue to grow and progress as a team throughout the season.”
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