Despite some major changes, Nicole Brandt thinks the Park Rapids girls tennis team has the potential to duplicate the success from a year ago.
Brandt does have to replace three key players from last year's Mid-State Conference and Section 8A runner-up team. In addition, the Panthers have a tougher section field with the addition of two conference rivals.
This year, Section 8A will be comprised of nine teams with Staples-Motley and Pequot Lakes moving in and Thief River Falls moving out. Crookston, East Grand Forks, New York Mills, Park Rapids, Perham, Roseau and Wadena-Deer Creek all return.
Roseau defeated the Panthers 5-0 in last year's section championship match to advance to the state Class A tournament for the third year in a row. Staples-Motley won the Section 6A title for the fourth straight year to advance to the state meet for the sixth year in a row and for the eighth time in the last nine years.
Staples-Motley won the Section 8A title in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Crookston will also seek a state berth after qualifying as the Section 8A champion in 2007, 2004 and 2001. Since 1991, Staples or Crookston had represented Section 8A at state 17 times before Roseau ended that run in 2008.
ADVERTISEMENT
The graduation of Alyssa Carlson, Karly Dickinson and Bailey LaCoursiere could hinder the Panthers' chances of duplicating last year's 14-5 record in dual meets. All three earned Mid-State Conference honors and were responsible for 69 victories last season.
Carlson became the first member of the Park Rapids girls tennis team to qualify for the state meet in doubles three times. The team's Most Valuable Player was the Mid-State champion at No. 1 doubles and the Section 8A champion in doubles and went 1-2 in her third appearance at state. Carlson went 28-5 as a sophomore, 24-9 as a junior and 25-11 as a senior to end her high school career with a 93-37 record, including a 75-27 record in doubles and 18-10 record in singles.
Dickinson went 16-9 in doubles as a junior and 20-12 as a senior, capping her high school career by placing fourth in doubles at the section meet. Dickinson won the conference title at No. 2 doubles and went 7-8 at No. 1 doubles and 9-1 at No. 2 doubles last season.
LaCoursiere compiled a 24-11 record in singles last season, going 7-6 at No. 1 singles and 12-3 at No. 2 singles before placing third in singles at the section meet.
Even though the Panthers have to replace those three veterans, Brandt returns a solid nucleus of players who are capable of competing for conference and section titles.
Leading the Panthers this season will be the seven players returning from last year's section squad. That group features seniors Allie Girtz, Bonnie Baumgartner and Lexi Burlingame; juniors Heidi Schaum and Lydia Schaum; and sophomores Christina Smith and Julia Renner.
Smith teamed with Carlson in doubles to qualify for her first state meet. In addition to going 10-1 at No. 1 doubles and 17-4 in doubles last season, Smith had a 1-0 record at No. 2 singles and a 7-2 record at No. 3 singles last season. Smith will compete for the No. 1 singles position this season.
Girtz was the Panthers' other all-conference player and teamed with Dickinson to win the conference title at No. 2 doubles and finish fourth in doubles at the section meet. Girtz went 20-12 in doubles last season and will play No. 1 doubles this season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Renner capped off last season by claiming runner-up honors at No. 2 singles at the conference meet and placing fourth at singles at the section tournament. Renner compiled a 25-9 overall record in singles last season, going 8-4 at No. 2 singles, 6-0 at No. 3 singles and 8-1 at No. 4 singles. Renner will play the No. 1 or No. 2 singles spot this fall.
Baumgartner and Burlingame teamed up to go 17-9 in doubles last season, highlighted by winning the Mid-State title at No. 3 doubles. That duo went 10-5 at No. 2 doubles and 7-4 at No. 3 doubles. Baumgartner also had a 4-1 record in singles play. Burlingame also had a 3-3 record with Walsh in doubles. Walsh also had a 2-3 record at No. 4 singles and finished fourth at that position at the conference meet. Those three will compete in doubles this season.
Heidi Schaum and Lydia Schaum posted a 1-1 record at No. 2 doubles and a 6-5 record at No. 3 doubles last season. Lydia Schaum was the conference runner-up at No. 3 singles and had an 8-3 record at that position. Heidi Schaum went 2-4 at No. 4 singles. Those two will play both singles and doubles this season.
Also competing for varsity time will be seniors Brittany Kinkel and Taylor Wheeler; juniors Sam Boyd, Lesa Ludwinski, Natasha Shabaiash, Jeni Simpson and Jill Simpson; sophomores Lauren Naeve, Charity Ridlon, Katy Spears, Shelby Thelen and Allison Walsh; and freshmen Lindsey Girtz, Hope Johnson, Sarena Kinkel, Morgan Knott and Danielle Thelen.
Wheeler went 0-2 in singles and 2-1 at No. 3 doubles last season while Boyd had a 1-2 record at No. 4 singles last fall.
"We have a few girls with varsity experience back," said Brandt, who will be assisted by Brianne Morris. "We have a lot of options in both singles and doubles. I expect us to be in a lot of close matches this year."
Staples-Motley edged the Panthers for the conference title last year while Roseau defeated the Panthers to win the section title the last two years. Brandt is counting on this year's group to contend for both titles again this fall.
"I see us competing well within the conference and section," said Brandt. "We've made it to the section finals the last two years and it would be fun to see us get there again this year. The girls are very confident in their abilities. They know that they can accomplish some good things this year."
