Coach Kable Walton will be counting heavily on his returnees when the Trinity Lutheran boys’ tennis team opens its season Monday at home against Indianapolis Lutheran.
Ryan Kleman returns at No. 1 singles and Cameron Gruenwald is back at No. 2 singles while Nathan Voelker and Soloman Hall return at No. 1 doubles.
Walton said, “I expect Kleman and Gruenwald to mature in their games. Both of them are in their senior year so I hope they put their best foot forward because it is their last chance in high school.
“Ryan definitely has a very good serve, especially when he’s confident with it. Cameron’s ground strokes are fantastic. As long as he keeps his consistency they’re really nice and hard shots.”
Walton is hoping his No. 1 doubles team can turn its season around. Voelker is a junior and Hall is a sophomore.
“My number one doubles was really ‘green’ last year, but they got a lot of experience, a lot of matches under their belt,” Walton said. “They didn’t have a lot of wins, but this year we’re hoping to improve.
“They’re worked real hard on their game and I think they’ll have some success this year.”
The other senior is Evan Hunt.
Gruenwald is beginning his seventh season (middle and high school) playing tennis. He played doubles his freshman and sophomore season and moved to singles last spring, and said he plans to battle Kleman for No. 1 singles.
“My forehand, and sometimes up at the net, overheads and volleys, are my strengths. My backhand is getting better,” Gruenwald said. “I like singles better. I prefer the one-on-one because with doubles you’re limited to about half the court, and I’m not a big fan of being limited to half the court.
“Winning that first serve gives you that confidence that going into the second half you’re going to have the advantage, that you’re going to be strong, probably not as tired because you didn’t have to work as hard as you made your opponent work.”
Gruenwald said he wants to have a winning season and hopes to help the Cougars to a winning season.
“My goals are to definitely win more matches than I did last year and definitely win more sets, and as a team I want to see us succeed and hopefully win sectional,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work at practice and a lot of motivation from everyone.”
Walton said, “I think with me returning for a second year we really have a better team cohesion. We’re really feeling better mentally.”
The Cougars were supposed to play New Washington and Oldenburg Academy early this week but the Mustangs are low in numbers, and the Twisters only had a couple players eligible so that match has been rescheduled for later in the season.