(Snow) Tennis, anyone?

Freshman Bennett Lagro 7-7 record last season

Instead of grabbing their tennis racquets, the Tigers opened pre-season practice needing snow shovels and hand warmers as they volleyed on an asphalt parking lot in Empire township.

"The major problem with the extended winter is we get such a late start," Tiger coach Jack Olwell said. "Many of the teams we will face have players who have been playing at clubs all winter and are match ready.

"We have only two or three such players, so we depend on our outdoor courts for the lions' share of our hitting."

Olwell said his 2013 team will feature depth it hasn't had in recent years but will have to improve quickly to make up for losses of key players from last year's squad.

Blake Olmscheid and Ben Cline, two quality players who manned the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, as well as the top doubles tandem of Tyler Olson and Jeff Zakoski graduated last spring.

On the bright side, the players with the best records from last season, sophomore Ivan Rodriguez (8-6) and freshman Bennett Lagro (7-7) return to the singles lineup.

The No. 2 doubles team of  juniors Jon Zakoski  and Trent Kortenbusch and the No. 3 pairing of senior Austin Rau and junior Austin Tremmel) also return.

Senior Drew Corraro, junior Jake Spindler and newcomer Jake Baker also also figure to be major contributors to this year's effort.

"We have a deep incoming class of ninth graders and several good athletes joining the team," Olwell said. "We have a great passion for the sport and a healthy camaraderie."

But Olwell said a strong freshman class and passion don't automatically translate into a dramatic improvement over last year's 2-12 record.

"We are still young and less experienced than our opponents," he said.  Each player will be moving up one or two places in the line-up which is always an adjustment."

Olwell picked Shakopee and Red Wing to vie for top honors in the race for Missota Conference honors with perennial state power Rochester Mayo the odds-on choice in Section 1AA

"I am hoping to build on the success we had last season," Olwell said, "improving our overall team record and having our kids enjoy an improved personal match record as well.

"Ultimately, I am hoping all of our kids embrace this wonderful sport and practice and play with passion."

The Tiger coaching staff may well be the most seasoned trio in the state. The head coach and veteran assistants Jon Malin and Joe "Dec" Emond account for nearly a century of combined tennis teaching experience