8/2/2012 - West Side Leader
     

BATH — Last year, the Revere High School girls tennis team finished with a 4-12 record, which was good for fourth place in the Suburban League both during the season and in the tournament.

Head coach Kathy Shisler said her team’s first goal this season is to improve on that performance.

“I would like to improve our standing in the league and go for first or second after last year’s fourth place,” she said. “Other realistic goals are to continue to improve skills throughout the season, be competitive and have fun. And we want to continue to work on sportsmanship and service to others, as well as striving for high academics and kind consideration for team and family members.”

Shisler said her players have put in plenty of work during the off-season.

“Many of the girls worked on the off-season playing at local clubs and getting either private or group lessons,” she stated. “I held practices throughout the summer to continue to work on skills and conditioning. We will still need to work on consistency and the competitiveness to want the win on every court. We will continue to improve throughout the season.”

The strengths of this year’s team, the coach said, include athleticism, team unity and love of the game.

“The team seems to get along well and help each other to be better players,” she noted.

The only senior on the team this year is Amira Hendrickson.

“She played doubles last year and loves the game of doubles,” the coach said. “She continues to improve — I just wish I had her one more year. The strengths in her game are her forehand and net game and her character. She continues to show good leadership toward all teammates.”

According to Shisler, the team will be “about 50/50” in terms of experienced and inexperienced players.

“We have three returning letterwomen — Amira Hendrickson, Anna Ling and Nikki Henry — and several girls from last year’s junior varsity team who have shown lots of improvement in their game since last year, including Claire Lifke, Megan Mortimer, Annie Taylor, Gina Bucci, Kathryn Fenton and Grace Berry,” she said. “Since it will be a first year for over half the team for varsity, I think it will be a building year.”

One promising new player on the squad this season, Shisler said, is freshman Hayley Hendrickson, who is Amira Hendrickson’s cousin.

“She is a competitive tournament player,” the coach said. “She will be our top player. I am looking forward to having her on the team.”

Other newcomers to the team include freshmen Perrine Furet, Priyanka Jain and Abbey Migdal; sophomore Megan Malyj; and junior Maris Halphern.

One returning player some people may be surprised by this season, Shisler said, is Lifke.

“She has improved her game significantly, and I think people would be surprised to see how much she has improved her strokes, consistency and will to win,” the coach said.

The Revere girls tennis team will get things under way with a scrimmage against North Canton Hoover High School Aug. 10. The first match of the regular season is scheduled for Aug. 16 against Jackson High School, followed by the Varsity Invitational Tournament in Rocky River Aug. 17.

“All of these matches are away, so the team will get some traveling time together before school starts and some great competition as well,” Shisler said. “Our first Suburban League match will be Monday, Aug. 20, against Tallmadge at home. It will be a good match to see.”

Before the matches start, however, the team will host tryouts Aug. 6-9 from 8 a.m. to noon.

“All interested players need to bring supplies — rackets and towels, healthy snacks, water and sunscreen,” Shisler said. “If a girl is interested in trying out, please contact me at kshisler@revereschools.org. We still have room for more interested players.”

This is Shisler’s 24th season as the varsity coach.

“I still enjoy working with the girls and seeing them improve their tennis and leadership skills over the years and then continuing the sport after high school,” she stated.

This year, Paul Fisher will be Revere’s junior varsity coach and Whit Andrew will be assisting with both girls tennis teams.

“We will miss Betty Thompson, who had coached the junior varsity team for the past six years, but was unable to continue due to family obligations,” Shisler said.

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