By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School spring tennis program returns three solid, experienced senior players and one talented sophomore to lead the 2023 net squad.
Nine players comprise the roster, with five newcomers to the game on the team.
The co-coaching duo of Ohio Northern University’s Katie Curry and Tyler Christoff also returns for their second season in charge of the program.
Both coaches gained valuable playing experience at ONU. Christoff played a season for the ONU men's tennis team after competing for Elida. Curry was a pharmacy student and a long-time member of the Polar Bear women’s net squad.
“This is a rebuilding year for our squad,” said Christoff. “With a lot of new faces, positions are up for grabs, so everyone is working really hard at practice to learn and get better.
“Brick by brick is our motto this year, and we want to work on the little things,” he continued. “We want to make sure we work on ourselves to the best we can so we can be suited for the season as it comes.”
The twice-revived Bulldog varsity spring tennis program went 4-5 in last spring's curtailed season marred by much rain and snow.
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Nine players comprise this spring's roster, including four letter winners and five complete newcomers to the team and sport.
Senior returnee Brendan Jameson moves up to likely handle the first singles spot, while senior two-time letter winner Amelia Alexander will probably play second singles.
Jameson played well at second singles last spring, while Alexander primarily competed at third singles. Jameson took second at the league tourney in the third singles bracket in 2021.
Alexander is the lone female on the team.
The athletic Jameson covers a lot of court and has good endurance. He does a good job of keeping the ball in play.
Alexander possesses good groundstrokes and is a steady, smart player who does not beat herself.
Quick sophomore southpaw Nathan Williams has good groundstrokes and speed, and is likely to play third singles after gaining valuable doubles experience last spring. He may move up even higher if he continues to improve.
“Those three are looking like the most viable options for the top three,” said Christoff. “What position they play in is the quandary.”
Improved and bigger senior Geddes Klingler is back and will probably play mostly at first doubles, but will vie for singles playing time as well.
"I am not sure who will play doubles as of right now," said Christoff.
Sophomore Luke Archer and freshmen Sam Crawford, Mohamed Khalil, Cooper Dappert and Justin Bowden comprise the rest of the nine-player roster.
"The newcomers are putting in a lot of hard work at practice," said Christoff. “They are working extremely hard to get better every day. I am excited to see, when the time comes, what they can do.”
The Ada tennis squad finished third at the Northern Buckeye Tennis League tournament, which was won by host Bryan.
Ada won the NBTL crown outright in 2018, and shared it with three other schools in 2017.
The 2023 season opens March 29 at home vs. Lima Central Catholic, weather permitting. Three of the first four Bulldog matches are slated to be at the nicely-refurbished Ada park courts.
The NBTL tournament will be held Friday, May 5. The sectionals in Lima follow the next week.
PHOTO CAPTION
The Ada tennis team, from left, front row: Geddes Klingler, Amelia
Alexander, Brendan Jameson.
Middle: Justin Bowden, Luke Archer, Cooper Dappert, Nathan Williams.
Back: Mohamad Khalil, coach Tyler Christoff, coach Katie Curry, Sam
Crawford.
PHOTO CAPTION
Returning Ada tennis letter winners, from left: Geddes Klingler, Amelia
Alexander, Brendan Jameson, Nathan Williams.
