
Row 1: Kristen Bull, Katie Schumann, Molly VonSeggern, Monica West, Jessica Blackmer, Paige Gebhardt, Anna Frausin Row 2: Hannah Sommer, Bayley Wolfe, Samantha Alger, Shannon Leal, Megan Brunett, Molly McCarthy, Sam Durkee Row 3: Coach Kennedy, Kellsie Rypma, Tamara Tiethoff, Cortney O’Brien, Julie Schut, Isabela Miranda, Beth Bullen, Seana Pursley, Coach Russel Not in Picture: Emma Balsby
The Cedar Springs girls tennis team has a renewed line-up this season after losing 7 of 12 starters to graduation last year. “The returning players are going to have to step up and compete in the top spots vacated by last year’s seniors,” said Coach Jerry Kennedy.
Three juniors and one sophomore—Paige Gebhardt, Jess Blackmer, Samantha Alger, and Kristen Bull—will be challenging to fill the top spots. Kennedy said all four girls have developed sound ground strokes and have what it takes to compete in the upper section of the line-up. Joining them are Megan Brunett and Shannon Leal, both sophomores, who were a winning pair at 4 doubles last year. “The new freshmen and last year’s JV players will all be a factor in the formation of the renewed team,” said Coach Kennedy.
Team starts out winning
The girls tennis team won their first two matches of the season, Saturday, March 24, defeating Rogers 8-0, and Grant 5-3, at Rockford’s MVP Athletic Club. Cedar Springs singles players Paige Gebhardt #1, Anna Frausin #2, Samantha Alger #3, and Kristen Bull #4, won all of their singles matches for the day, to give the Red Hawks a sweep in the singles. The #4 doubles team of Julie Schut and Monica West won both of their matches with close scores. Megan Brunett and Shannon Leal (#1 doubles), Jessica Blackmer and Katie Schumann (#2 doubles), and Bayley Wolfe and Molly VonSeggern (#3 doubles) all finished with one win and one loss for the day.
The team will take on Sparta on April 11.