Longtime Whitehall tennis coach Greg McManus is back in the saddle coaching the Viking girls this spring. He took the past two spring seasons off to coach his son's baseball games and now returns for his 15th girls season.
McManus inherits a good top group, good enough in fact that last year's No. 1 singles player, Akeelah Martin, is for the moment in the No. 2 spot. Challenge matches among Martin, Izzy Gould, Riley Shafer and Avarie Bentz were extremely competitive, which bodes well for the Vikings' depth.
"All these players have contrasting styles and can beat each other on any given day," McManus said.
Bentz is starting the season in the No. 1 doubles spot, playing along with fellow returner Braelee Fogus, a sophomore. Seniors Emily VanDam and Addie Broton make up the No. 2 doubles pair, and junior Ella Sumerix is slated for a potential starting spot at No. 4 singles. Other returners include Savanna Koernke and Bea Lewis.
New players to watch include freshman Nora Grey and Molly Sobirova, a foreign exchange student. Grey opened the season alongside Lewis on the No. 3 doubles team, and Sobirova and Koernke teamed up at No. 4 doubles.
"These two are improving immensely in a short period of time," McManus said of the two newcomers.
Indeed, the improvements of some of the younger players, not to mention the unpredictable weather affecting play early in the season, could result in a rejiggered lineup later on. Especially considering how close the singles players are, challenge matches could change things.
The schedule is challenging as usual, but includes a highlight of the Vikings hosting the conference meet, as the boys team did last fall. McManus said he and assistant Jared Vanderleest are hopeful of a high finish in the league.
"This year will be the first time me and Jared Vanderleest will be coaching the girls as we have been coaching the boys the last 12 years together," McManus said. "I am excited to be coaching with Jared and anxious to see where we can take these girls."
