BonnerSprings.com

Despite some uncooperative weather, the Bonner Springs boys tennis team has begun practice for the 2010 season.

On the first day of March, coach Bill Scott had 40 boys show up for practice — a record number.

“I was thrilled with the enormous interest, and we did have a few practices with that many, but then reality set in and we had to inform them that there would have to be cuts,” Scott said.

The coaching staff established their top 12 returning players, excluded the six freshmen from cuts and had the rest play two tournaments to determine the remaining members of this year’s team. Now the squad is down to a more manageable number of 24 players.

“(The 24) guys will practice with us every day, and guys who were cut and are still interested in getting better will form a Friday practice squad only,” Scott said. “As they get better, they will get a chance to challenge back on the team. We call them our D- squad — ‘D’ for developmental league.”

Scott has six returning letter winners: Spencer Bush, Lucas Isaacs, Cordell Duncan, Tyler Johnson, Jacob Moulin and Jacob Slattery. The squad is made up of six freshmen, five sophomores, six juniors and seven seniors for a well-balanced mix of experience and youth.

Bush is the number one singles player for the Braves this year after being a member of the number one doubles team last season.

Duncan and Moulin formed the number two doubles team last season and struggled at times, but they turned it on at the end of the year when they really started clicking together. Scott is not sure how everything will fit together this season yet, but he says it’s possible the doubles duo will stay together. Their first-place finish at the Leavenworth Varsity Invitational last May was a sign of optimism that Scott hopes the pair can build on.

Last season ended a nine-year stretch where the Braves sent someone to the state championships, but they seem primed to start a new streak this spring.

“We had some guys work hard on their tennis all summer, and hopefully that pays off,” Scott said.

According to Scott, he has some younger players that he hopes will contribute on the court. He expects big things from freshman Aaron Lewis and sophomores B.J. Watson and Drew Hern. Watson is a gifted athlete who will no doubt be the quickest BSHS player if he moves with a racquet like he does with a basketball in his hand.

“There should be constant challenging for all the varsity and junior varsity positions on the ladders,” Scott said. “(It) should be a fun and satisfying year as always.”

The season begins on the Plaza with Bonner Springs’ annual dual with Bishop Miege. This is always one of the more challenging events of the season and was moved from April 22 to March 30.

“We will know right away how competitive we will be this season,” Scott said.

The day following the Bishop Miege dual is the Mill Valley Varsity Tournament. That tournament will take place on the BSHS courts due to the construction at Mill Valley.

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