A youthful Panthers squad has taken over the Jim Harkendorff Tennis Courts this summer.
Official practices started Monday, but new coach Dan Wood has had his team in full force for the past month.
Wood was an assistant for the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys last season and served as the Lady Panthers head coach in the spring. Steve Cathey returns as an assistant.
The season opener is Friday, Aug. 26, at Hotchkiss before traveling to always tough Aspen the next day. Wood feels the young Panthers have prepared well for the upcoming season.
I think we got a good head start, he said. Im really encouraged with what I see so far. We got a real strong set of singles players.
At No. 1 singles is Graham Cathey, a sophomore. He edged senior Logan Dean for the top spot. Dean will be No. 2 and Zack Lamb is the No. 3 singles player.
Cathey played in a recent summer tournament in Durango against singles players from many 5A/4A Southwestern League schools and placed third. The sophomore has quickly adjusted to Woods coaching style.
Hes a lot of fun. He gets the team together, Cathey said about Wood. Hes good at coaching tennis in shots and technique. But hes also good at bringing all the kids together.
The Panthers were just 3-6 as a team last year. No. 1 singles player Max Demby graduated and Cathey knows he has big shoes to fill, but is excited for the challenge.
Ive worked for lots of years playing against my dad (Steve Cathey). I still hit with him a lot. It would mean a lot to me to be able to get the position Ive been working for, for years, Graham Cathey said. Before high school, I used to play with the team.
At doubles, the No. 1 team are seniors Freeland Wegner and Nick Haukeness. Other doubles teams havent been set, but sophomores Todd Underwood and Ford Wegner return, as well as Caleb Branson. Sophomore newcomers Wyatt Yates and Brayden Carry are challenging at doubles. A new freshman, Sam Berrada, is learning Woods system, too.
Theyve played a little tennis, and theyre good athletes, Wood said about the newcomers. They really help us fill the team out. Weve got a good team. Weve got about a week of practice now, and then we open up at Hotchkiss.
The Panthers shutout Hotchkiss 7-0 last season but fell 6-1 to Aspen.
M-CHS will be on the road until Sept. 27, when it hosts arch rival Durango, whom the Panthers split with last year. The Durango match is the first of a three-game home stand to conclude the regular season. Other home matches are against league opponents Fruita Monument and Montrose on Friday, Sept. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 1. The regional tournament begins Thursday, Oct. 6, in Grand Junction.
Im hoping well have some good competition and go into regionals toughened up, Wood said. (Many of) those (Southwestern League) schools are 5A schools, and were 4A. The sophomores are really strong right now. Their experience will be valuable in the upcoming years.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
