The 2022 Waseca Tennis team — Front row: Sarah Robbins, Vivian Mader, Lauren Drexler, Maddy Benson, Tailyn Kaput, Esme Pearce, and Takya Schoenrock. Middle row: Madilyn Larrabee, Addie Bomsta, Addie Pfeifer, Sarah Haley, Miranda Breck, and Paola Sandoval. Back row: Coach Kyle Collins, Pearl Moore, Paige Dufault, Lizzy Roessler, Cece Huttemier, Mia Kanewischer, and Coach Tim Anderson.
WHS girls’ tennis team looks to bounce back
Don’t expect Jays to be winless again in Big South
Don’t expect Jays to be winless again in Big South
Fri, 12/30/2022 - 12:35am
“We have a good mix of veterans and new players which should make for a nice time.”— 19-year head coach Kyle Collins
The Waseca High School girls' tennis team has enjoyed plenty of success under coach Kyle Collins.
Last year was an exception.
The Bluejays finished 4-14 overall last fall and, at 0-5, went winless in conference play for the first time in many years.
It doesn't look like that will happen again.
The Bluejays, 210-129 in Collins' 18 season as head coach, are definitely looking for progress.
Key players graduated off last year's squad were doubles players Nicola DeJager and Jaidence Medina.
Looking to lead the 2022 Bluejays are seniors Cece Huttemier, Sarah Robbins and Miranda Breck. Huttemier was an all-conference singles player last year. Robbins played singles, Breck doubles.
"We have a good mix of veterans and new players which should make for a nice time," said Collins. "The girls are working hard at practice, but we have many things to work on. Consistency and finding out who to play where will be out challenges."
Collins will have plenty of players to choose from as the Bluejays return several veteran players, including eight letterwinners.
The rest of the roster includes juniors Sarah Haley, Addie Bomsta, and Elizabeth Roessler, sophomores Takya Schoenrock, Ashton Jenzen, Mia Kanewischer, Addie Pfeifer and Esme Pearce, and ninth-graders Pearl Moore, Maddy Benson, Paige Dufault, Tailyn Kaput, Lauren Drexler, Vivian Mader, Madilin Larrabee and Paula Sandoval.
Earning varsity letters last year were Breck, Huttemier, Robbins, Haley, Bomsta, Schoenrock and Kanewischer.
"Our singles lineup should be pretty good," said Collins.
The Bluejays are, however, still young, with many sophomores and freshmen battling to fill out the varsity lineup. Some of those youngsters will undoubtedly contribute. The team includes eight freshmen.
Collins is cautiously optimistic.
"If the girls continue to improve in practice and the early matches, we should be ready to compete in the conference and hopefully pick up a few wins," said the coach. "I think we will sneak up on a few teams and surprise them, if we play our best."
Collins, in his 25th year with the WHS girls' tennis program, is joined by fourth-year assistant Tim Anderson, who served as head coach at Maple River for many years.
The favorites in the East Division of the Big South Conference, according to Collins, are St. Peter, Blue Earth and Fairmont. The top teams in Section 1AA look to be Rochester Mayo, Rochester Century, Lakeville North, Lakeville South and Owatonna.