Tennis team ahead of the game

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Park High School’s boys tennis team, which ended its 2007 campaign 7-11, kicks off its season today, boasting returning talent from its post-season veterans and eagerness from its underclass reserves.

Longtime Wolfpack No. 1 singles player, senior John Germo, returns after earning the fourth seed in last year’s Section 3AA individual tournament and falling to eventual section winner Matt Schull of Henry Sibley. Sam Howard will join all-conference recipient Germo as an experienced senior on this year’s varsity.

The juice of the team, though, will be in its juniors. The team totes six juniors and a plethora of underclassmen.

“We have tons of juniors,” said Park coach Cris Glade. “We’ll be young, but we’ll be a little bit more experienced than in the past.”

Tyler Bertelsen returns after competing for the ’Pack at No. 2 singles in last year’s section, while sophomores Peter Schrankler and Ben Uecker, who competed at No. 1 doubles in the 2007 section meet, also return.

From what he’s seen so far, his returning talent has come a long way since a year ago at this time, Glade said.

“I’m seeing a lot of kids that put in time over the winter,” Glade said. “I think they have some fairly high expectations of themselves. They saw what they accomplished last year and I think they want to get that back this year.

“We’ve got a bunch of nice kids that work hard, and they’re farther along than they’ve ever been at this point, as far as skill development and readiness of play.”

Today’s contest at St. Paul Harding begins at 3:30 p.m. Park begins Suburban East Conference play tomorrow, April 10, at Park at 3:30 p.m.

Tags: sports, boystennis, parkhighschool, stpaulharding