Medical Lake tennis teams have holes to fill

Graduation and moves of some students has left the tennis cupboard pretty bare at Medical Lake High School.

“We graduated a total of 12 from last year’s squad, nine of those from varsity, ” co-head coach Dawn Eliassen wrote in an email. “We also had a number of players move out of the district.”

That leaves the Cardinal boys, who were 9-3 and runners-up in the Northeast A League in 2017 and co-champs in 2016, with just two returning varsity players and the girls with what Eliassen referred to as “One-ish returning varsity girl.”

Noah Ray will be the Cardinals’ top returner and competed at state last year. His toughest competition is likely going to be from Freeman and Deer Park.

“Ethan Brown is our other returning boy,” Eliassen said. He comes from his role as No. 2 and No. 3 doubles last year and will likely return there.

Heather Barr is the top returning girl. She competed in singles much of last year and landed in the district tournament.

Emily Zunker and Lauren Saue-Fletcher are also back. Zunker missed most of last season due to injury. She will likely be in doubles as will Saue-Fletcher.

If there is a bright spot, Eliassen said, “The good news is we have 13 new players this year which is double the new players we had last year.”

Weather permitting the ML boys will be at Cheney today, March 15 for a 3 p.m. match. Both teams travel to face Lind-Ritzville for nonleague matches March 17 which begin at 10 a.m. Northeast A League play begins March 22 at Freeman.

As was the case last season, Eliassen will be assisted by co-head coaches Jake Wesselman and Todd Harr.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.