March is here, and that signals spring is near.
The Lady Panthers tennis team has had to battle the elements the first week of spring practice. But a full squad of 25 girls has turned out for what could potentially be a good season at Montezuma-Cortez High School.
They seem to put things together, and have a really good time and communicate well, said second-year Lady Panthers coach Dan Wood. The major thing is with five freshmen out for the team, you know thats something to look forward to in the future.
M-CHS finished fourth-place last year at the 4A Region 8 tournament and return its top two singles players. Senior Abby Pickens and junior Sadee Threlkeld will battle it out for the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots.
I hope that I get No. 1, Threlkeld said. Im OK with No. 2. Im fine with wherever he (Wood) places me. I just hope that if I get No. 1, that I can do good this year. I did pretty good last year, but I want to get farther. I want to go to state.
Threlkeld says she has improved her serving and has relentlessly practiced her backhand this season to move up to the coveted No. 1 position.
Freshman Nicole Demby and junior transfer Kristin Parker will compete at No. 3s.
No. 1 doubles will have to replace 2011 state qualifiers Andi Pickens and Jessica Gonzalez. The duos of Charley Stewart and Emily Walck, and Raena Conklin and Mary Wright are fighting for No. 1s.
Potential No. 3 and 4 doubles teams will see Krista Wynes, Sage Kramer, Jaci Veach, Jessica Quinonez and Amanda Haukeness vie for varsity playing time.
I just hope that with all the people that were playing, even if we lose, I hope that well still be able to have key points that we can look back to and think about what we did good, Threlkeld said. Hopefully, we just keep working on the things that we need to work on and to pull yourself up after youve gone down.
The Lady Panthers will have to quickly establish a good starting lineup. The season starts off with region rival Durango at home at the Jim Harkendorff Tennis Courts on March 20. Home matches follow with 5A foes Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central on March 30-31.
Weve got a really tough start, Wood said. Then we go to the Delta tournament, where weve got some competition thats more aligned with our ability.
Although the Lady Panthers will be on the road for the rest of the season, the schedule gets friendlier with nonconference play after spring break. M-CHS will participate in the Delta County tournament at Delta High School on April 6-7. The Lady Panthers will return to Delta with matches against Hotchkiss and Paonia (April 20), and Cedaredge and Delta (April 21). M-CHS will conclude out of conference play and resume region action April 27, in Fruita with matches against Aspen and host Fruita Monument. The regular season ends April 28, in Montrose.
Im hoping by the time we get to regionals, well be ready to go and have three or four girls qualify for state, Wood said.
First serve is March 20, at 4 p.m., against Durango at the Jim Harkendorff Tennis Courts.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.