Tennis

 

2022 Tennis Team Information

For Parents and Players

Philosophy:

• The tennis coaches believe that dedication, focus, enthusiasm and excellent sportsmanship are the foundation for a team that will represent its school with dignity and honor. The coaches will give 100% each day and expect the same from each and every participant.

The season:

• The 1^st day of practice is Monday, March 14, 2022.
• Players must have at least 10 practices to play in a match.
• Practice will be every weekday from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm (unless there is no school – then practice will be from 10:00 am until noon). Occasionally practice gets over earlier because of inclement weather.
• Beginning Monday, March 21nd there will be challenge matches from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. Players will be notified at the practice the day before they need to stay for play.
• There are matches scheduled on some Saturdays – see the schedule for all match dates, times and places (subject to change).
• The Divisional Tournament is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 19 using the courts in Butte.
• The State tournament is scheduled to begin play on May 26. The location is Bozeman.
• June 2 for the awards banquet held at courts if weather permits.

Players – if you know that you will not be available for either the Divisional or State weekend you need to let the coaches know as soon as possible.

Supplies and Equipment:

The school provides:

• Shirts for matches
• Shorts for matches
• Yellowjacket Igloo water coolers.
• Tennis balls for practices and games
• Water for practice and matches
• Some meals during Divisional and State Tournaments

Players need to supply

• Tennis shoes (non-marking – some sneakers or basketball shoes will leave marks on the courts)
• Racket – however the coaches do have rackets that may be borrowed until a player gets his/her own.
• Players need to bring food or money on away matches and when we have all day home matches scheduled.

Bus Rules:

• Players must, of course, follow all the general bus rules, such as staying seated, not putting any body parts outside, and not throwing anything out of the windows.
• A player may be signed out by a parent or legal guardian at an away match.
• A player may be pre-signed out by a parent or legal guardian to ride home with someone else only by going through the Athletic Director in advance of the match day. The head coach must have the approval signed by the Athletic director before he can allow the player to not ride the bus.
• Boys and Girls will be separated on the bus (boys in front girls in back or vice versa).

Parental and classmate support:

• Spectator rules will be determined by MHSA and school COVID guidelines.
• Coaching by anyone other than school designated coaches is against the rules.
• Cheering for players between points is welcomed – remember though that the match you are watching is not the only one being played at that moment.
• Cheering for or talking to players during a point can be very distracting to the player and could cause them to lose the point.
• Cheering because the opponent makes an error requires tact (cheering after a double fault is considered very bad form – however, if you always begin your encouragement with our players name, cheering can be done with good sportsmanship. Example – OK (player’s name) stay tough.

Preparing for the Divisional and State tournaments

• The divisional teams are made up of 4 singles and 3 doubles – a total of ten players. (ten boys and ten girls)
• Around the end of April it may become necessary to have full match (2 out of 3 sets) challenges to narrow the team down as preparations for Divisional and State intensify.
• We would like to field the best possible teams that we can – not only in quality of play, but in effort level and a high level of sportsmanship. We wish every student who comes out for tennis the very best of luck.  A freshman has just as much chance to make the varsity as a senior.  It could come down to: who follows instructions best, who gives the most effort, who represents the team, school, coaches, and themselves best and if all of those are equal who can beat whom.  However, if the coaches feel that a player’s effort level or conduct at practice or a match is below team standards the player will be spoken to.  Then if there is little or no improvement, the player will be asked to turn in his/her gear.  This could happen at any time during the season.  (This has only happened twice during the 28 years that I have coached the teams.)

School Issued Gear:

• Shirts, Shorts, Warm-ups and Tennis Bags that are issued to players need to be returned to one of the coaches within two days of the end of the season for that player. If a player does not make the Divisional Team his/her gear needs to be turned in no later than May 18.  If a player makes the Divisional Team but does not qualify for State the gear needs to be returned no later than May 25.  The players who make it to State need to return their gear by May 31.

Divisional Dinner:

• For many years the parents of the players who have made the Divisional Team have put on a pasta dinner for the players before Divisionals. All Divisional play begins on Thursday, May 19; therefore we will need to have the dinner on Wednesday around 5:30 pm.  This will depend on COVID guidelines and approval by the school. The players and coaches enjoy this send off and would like to thank those who help in advance.

End of the Year Awards:

• On Thursday, June 2nd the tennis team will have its awards ceremony at the tennis courts (weather permitting). Everyone who participated during the season (not just Divisional and State players) and their families are welcome to join in the festivities.
• Format for the ceremony will depend on COVID guidelines and approval by the school.
• Participation certificates will be awarded to those who did not make it to Divisionals.
• Letters will be awarded to those who made it to Divisionals.
• Other awards, such as sportsmanship or medals won at Divisionals or State will be presented at this time.

Coach Everett has been playing tennis for over 50 years. He was a full time tennis professional for over 25 years giving lessons to players from beginners through college level.  He has taught in Texas, France, Egypt and Montana.  He became the head tennis coach for Stevensville in 1990.  Since that time the Boys’ Team has won the State Title twice and the Girls’ Team has won the State Title once.  There have also been numerous 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes for both teams.

 

 

 

1992 State Champions

Left to Right: Chris (Boris) Becker, John Powell, Dan Dailey, Clint Cotton, Coach Everett, Chris Gehlen, Nathan Paul, Bryan Dufresne and Shaun Madruga

1996 State Champions

Left to Right: Matt Knutsen, Dan Benjamin, Coach Everett, Nandi Kovats, Sam Koenen, Jacob Powell

Left to Right: Coach Koepplin, Janna Knutson, Molly Koenen, Brooke Mullin, Marie Woltanski, Angie Loessberg, Coach Everett