Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

The 2016 Maricopa High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams want to build off of experience and skill each team has developed over the last few seasons.

For the girls, returning players will play a key role in leading the Rams to a victory. Junior Bailey Abel is anticipated to lead the team, but head coach Heather Abel expects the rest of the team to step up, too.

“I am excited for this season,” coach Abel said. “I think we have a great group of girls. We have a few returning players, and some new girls on the team.”

The girls’ team will face an uphill battle against a tough schedule that includes Arizona Interscholastic Association Division II playoff teams Ironwood Ridge High School (Tucson), Nogales High School, Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson) and state runner-up Catalina Foothills High School (Tucson).

On the boys’ side, the Rams want to take advantage of a weaker schedule. They don’t have a single playoff team from 2015 scheduled, and seniors Frank Olvey, Tyler Getz and Drake Dutra will look to develop their skill throughout the season.

“My current MHS team consists of half juniors and half seniors,” head coach Paula Pavlosky said. “Though our team may be small, our energy level is strong. We hope to bring some great matches and wins for this great sport.”

The boys started the season Feb. 24 with a 6-3 victory over Casa Grande High School. Their match with Coolidge was postponed, but the Rams defeated Gilbert Classical Academy 5-4 on March 1.

The girls lost at Casa Grande, 7-2, and followed with a Feb. 29 loss at home to Buckeye, 9-0.

Girls’ Schedule

Photo by Devin Carson
Photo by Devin Carson

Feb. 24        4 p.m.    (A) Casa Grande                             L 2-7
Feb. 29        3:30 p.m. (H) Buckeye Union                     L 0-9
March 3    3:30 p.m. (H) Ironwood Ridge
March 16    3:30 p.m. (A) Salpointe Catholic
March 22    3:30 p.m. (H) Catalina Foothills
March 23     3:30 p.m. (A) Skyline
March 30    3:30 p.m. (H) Nogales
April 1        3:30 p.m. (A) Marana
April 6        3:30 p.m. (A) Vista Grande
April 7        3:30 p.m. (H) Canyon Del Oro
April 11        3:30 p.m. (A) Poston Butte
April 14        3:30 p.m. (A) at Casa Grande Union
April 15        3:30 p.m. (H) Mountain View Marana

Boys’ Schedule
Feb. 24        3:30 p.m. (H) Casa Grande Union                 W 6-3
Feb. 26        3:30 p.m. (H) Coolidge                                   Postponed
March 1    3:30 p.m. (H) Gilbert Classical Academy        W 5-4
March 3    3:30 p.m. (A) Tempe
March 4    3:30 p.m. (H) Veritas Prep
March 22    3:30 p .m. (A) Antelope Union
March 29    3:30 p.m. (H) Marana
March 30    3:30 p.m. (A) Coronado
April 1        3:30 p.m. (H) Sierra Linda
April 4        3:30 p.m. (A) Mountain View Marana
April 6        3:30 p.m. (H) Seton Catholic
April 11        3:30 p.m. (H) Poston Butte
April 13        4 p.m. (A) AZ College Prep
April 15        4 p.m. (A) Buckeye Union

Photo by Raquel Hendrickson
Photo by Raquel Hendrickson
Adam Wolfe
Adam Wolfe
http://inmaricopa.com
Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams.
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