With a new coach, up-and-coming freshman talent, returning seniors, and players coming back from injuries, the girls tennis team is facing big changes this season that bring high hopes to players and coaches alike.
The Bravettes had a disappointing tennis season last year, with no Bravettes qualifying in singles or doubles for state. But new head coach Mark Luna hopes to change that.
"I plan on spending just as much time with the girls team as the men, and utilizing Fa Fa (Heitert, assistant coach)," said Luna. "The girls team will (also) get a lot of support from the returning seniors."
Top seniors returning to the team include Sarah Welling and Nicole Nolte, along with a strong supporting cast of juniors Stacia Wiggin and Jesse Wyman. Wyman missed all of her sophomore season due to a hand injury sustained while skiing, but now is healed and working on her game.
"I've been playing ever since my hand healed," said Wyman. "I think I'll do well."
Heitert is optimistic about the team and it's attitude.
"Hopefully we'll do a lot better than last year, now that we have more experience," said Heitert. "They all have a really great attitude and they're a great bunch of kids."
The team has high hopes for two freshmen, Ana Iwersen and Tana Strand, who continue a family tennis tradition. Iwersen hopes to follow in the footsteps of her brother, Beau Iwersen, who won the state doubles championship last year. Strand's sister, Tara Strand, held the number two doubles spot in 1995.
"I just want to play singles and make the travel team," said Iwersen. "Hopefully someone will make state thi year."
"I hope I make varsity," said Strand of her goals for the season. "The girls will probably do better this year."
The Bravettes have a good chance at state this year with the doubles team of Welling and Wiggin, who played at divisionals last year.
"My biggest goal this year is to make it to state in doubles," said Wiggin. "We'll have fun, that's the most important thing."
"I think this will be my best season yet," said Welling of the upcoming season. "I've been taking lessons and I feel my game has really improved."
Luna's coaching style is a welcome change for some.
"He has some really good philosophies, like, winning is important but having fun is more important," said Welling. "He's going to make us work harder than Larry (former coach) did."
The changes will make for a different season than last year, but winning still rests in the hands of the players.
Said Iwersen: "It's up to the players how far they want to take it, and what they want to do with it."