2010 MVP, All-Missota Conference Honorable Mention
Ben Cline (bottom)
2010 Player of the Year. All-Missota Conference Honorable Mention
After a winless 2010 season, season Tiger boys tennis coach Jack Olwell is looking for a spike in his team's fortunes this spring.
Olwell's hopes seem to be well-justified as he returns his top three singles players as well as three letterwinners with varsity experience in doubles play.
Senior Seth Roberts, last year's Most Valuable Player who also received all-Missota Conference honorable mention, is expected to hold on to his familiar spot at No. 1 singles if he can stay healthy.
"Seth has had a laundry list of injuries and health issues so we are praying that he will be OK," Olwell said.
Juniors Ben Cline, an all-conference honorable mention performer last year, and Blake Olmscheid, the team's 2010 "Player of the Year", are penciled in at the second and third singles slots.
"The fourth singles position looks open," Olwell said. "Right now, Brian Waldbillig looks like the front-runner."
Senior Peter Folz and juniors Tyler Olson and Jeff Zakoskie all bring doubles experience to the table and will likely fill half of the doubles lineup.
Sophomore letterwinner Austin Rau along with newcomers Austin Tremmel, Blake Bostrom, Colton Sanders, John Zakoskie and Trent Kortenbusch could also log varsity court time this spring.
Olwell picked perennial contender Red Wing as the pre-season choice in the Missota Conference with Rochester Mayo the odds-on favorite to grab Section 1AA honors.
Veteran Jon Malin returns as varsity assistant coach this spring as does volunteer coach Joe "Doc" Emond.
The Tigers kick off their spring season, Wednesday, Apr. 6, with a non-conference dual meet at South St. Paul.
