'New' Grizzlies defending SL title
Revamped lineup will try to repeat as champs
Wadsworth’s boys tennis team is trying to defend its Suburban League championships with six new players in seven spots. Photo by GLEN RUTHERFORD/Glen Rutherford Photography
Wadsworth’s boys tennis team is pushing the reset button in a major way this year. The 2016 squad, which went unbeaten in the Suburban League National Division and went on to win the SL National tournament, is all but gone.
Grizzlies coach Christa Halicka will have fond memories of the 2016 team, which claimed the school’s first SL championship in boys tennis.
“Last year’s group was a very rewarding bunch as the players were extremely committed to improving their tennis game,” Halicki said. “Watching their growth over four years was very fulfilling and I feel very lucky to have been part of their journey as players.”
The only remaining player from last season is TJ Lockwood, who will be making the move to No. 1 singles after posting a 14-5 record at the third spot. That included going 8-2 in conference play with a third-place finish in the league tournament.
Every other varsity player is new, meaning talk of a repeat championship may be tempered this season. But Halicki is a glass-half-full kind of coach in that she looks at this year as a stepping stone to future success.
“Our varsity is very young with six players new to varsity this year, but our mission remains the same: to be fearless competitors that leave it all out on the court,” she said. “This year I also hope to give all seven players a taste at both singles and doubles to find the lineup that will work best since we will have a few years together.”
In addition to Lockwood, the roster at singles will be Carter Moore at No. 2 and Noah Porter in the third slot.
At doubles, William Virgin and Sam Hanna will comprise the first squad, while Demetri Laikos and Beau Casey will be second.
Halicki stresses that the lineup – which is heavy in sophomore talent – is a work in progress, however.
“The lineup is the one we have used for the past two league matches although I am not sure we will stick with this lineup exclusively,” Halicki said. “Also, I see all seven players stepping up this year to fill holes left by the seniors. Last year’s Suburban League title though shows these sophomores the result of hard work and dedication. They know winning the league is something we are really going to have to work for, just like our last group did.”
In fact, the fluidity of the lineup may just be a blessing in disguise as the Grizzlies search for the winning formula.
“One of our strengths this season is the flexibility we have,” Halicki said. “After graduating six of our seven varsity players from last year, everyone will be in a new position this season and we will have major flexibility with our lineup as we work towards figuring out what gives our team the best chance to win. Trying different combinations for doubles and trying players out at both singles and doubles will help us work towards finding our best lineup.”
What the team – aside from Lockwood – lacks in experience, it makes up for in pure athleticism, Halicki said. Playing junior varsity last year and witnessing the work put in by the varsity players should rub off.
“One of the best qualities our team continues to display is an inner drive to improve,” Halicki said. “Our team has shown this so far as many players have worked during the off season to grow as both tennis players and athletes in general.”
Grizzlies coach Christa Halicka will have fond memories of the 2016 team, which claimed the school’s first SL championship in boys tennis.
“Last year’s group was a very rewarding bunch as the players were extremely committed to improving their tennis game,” Halicki said. “Watching their growth over four years was very fulfilling and I feel very lucky to have been part of their journey as players.”
The only remaining player from last season is TJ Lockwood, who will be making the move to No. 1 singles after posting a 14-5 record at the third spot. That included going 8-2 in conference play with a third-place finish in the league tournament.
Every other varsity player is new, meaning talk of a repeat championship may be tempered this season. But Halicki is a glass-half-full kind of coach in that she looks at this year as a stepping stone to future success.
“Our varsity is very young with six players new to varsity this year, but our mission remains the same: to be fearless competitors that leave it all out on the court,” she said. “This year I also hope to give all seven players a taste at both singles and doubles to find the lineup that will work best since we will have a few years together.”
In addition to Lockwood, the roster at singles will be Carter Moore at No. 2 and Noah Porter in the third slot.
At doubles, William Virgin and Sam Hanna will comprise the first squad, while Demetri Laikos and Beau Casey will be second.
Halicki stresses that the lineup – which is heavy in sophomore talent – is a work in progress, however.
“The lineup is the one we have used for the past two league matches although I am not sure we will stick with this lineup exclusively,” Halicki said. “Also, I see all seven players stepping up this year to fill holes left by the seniors. Last year’s Suburban League title though shows these sophomores the result of hard work and dedication. They know winning the league is something we are really going to have to work for, just like our last group did.”
In fact, the fluidity of the lineup may just be a blessing in disguise as the Grizzlies search for the winning formula.
“One of our strengths this season is the flexibility we have,” Halicki said. “After graduating six of our seven varsity players from last year, everyone will be in a new position this season and we will have major flexibility with our lineup as we work towards figuring out what gives our team the best chance to win. Trying different combinations for doubles and trying players out at both singles and doubles will help us work towards finding our best lineup.”
What the team – aside from Lockwood – lacks in experience, it makes up for in pure athleticism, Halicki said. Playing junior varsity last year and witnessing the work put in by the varsity players should rub off.
“One of the best qualities our team continues to display is an inner drive to improve,” Halicki said. “Our team has shown this so far as many players have worked during the off season to grow as both tennis players and athletes in general.”