SHORELINE — Youth may very well rule the courts this spring.
The arrival of another potent freshman class completes a Shorewood girls tennis roster teeming with talented juniors and sophomores.
“We keep getting really good players,” Shorewood coach Arnie Moreno said. “The four freshmen who are on the team this year are some of the best freshman girls I’ve seen in awhile as a group.”
With just two players gone from last season’s 13-3 team, the Thunderbirds are setting out to improve on their second-place Wesco 4A South Division finish.
Sophomore Samantha Lim returns at No. 1 singles for the T-birds. Lim posted a winning record at No. 1 last year and went on to place sixth at the Northwest District 4A singles tournament.
“Samantha is a year stronger and more experienced,” Moreno said. “She dedicated herself to working on her game in the offseason and she has been looking very tough in practice.”
Junior Anastasia Shatilo and sophomore Danhua Ma have also locked up spots on the singles ladder and Moreno expects a variety of players will take turns filling the remaining slot.
Among the pool of contenders are sophomores Jordan Reni and Cassie Lee, juniors Blossom Cohon and Briguette Umana and freshmen Kari Fisk and Elle MacGeorge.
“All of the freshmen play year-round and go to camps and tournaments,” Moreno said. “They are very experienced players and they should add a lot of depth to our lineup.”
Reni and Cohon will team at No. 1 doubles and junior Kali Chamberlin and senior Erin Link were at No. 2 going into Shorewood’s first series of Wesco South matches this week.
The T-birds finished a close second to Jackson last year in a neck-and-neck league race and dealt the Timberwolves their only defeat of the season.
Jackson lost just one of its six district participants to graduation and should match up well with the T-birds, who are aiming for their second Wesco South championship in three years.
“We’re so young, but the talent’s there,” Moreno said. “The girls really want to win it.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
