The Oshkosh West Index - Young tennis squad serves up success with raw talent

Young tennis squad serves up success with raw talent

By Elina Hu
posted 11:25:58 AM CST, May 24, 2007

With the force of an ace serve, the boys tennis team started the season with a smash. With a strong team of incoming freshmen and an experienced set of veterans, the team has a sturdy foundation. Despite a few losses, the team morale is still high.

“The teams we have lost to are probably the best in our conference, especially Neenah,” said freshman Kinan Al-Bitar. “But we stuck with them in our matches; it wasn’t just a blowout.”

Senior Steve Langkau, the number one singles player, also has a positive outlook on the squad’s campaign this year.

“I think our team has done a very nice job, given all our inexperience,” he said. “We are a team that can put up a fight with any team in the area. I think there is room for improvement, but we are happy so far.”

This, though, is not due to luck. The athletes toil to earn their winnings.

“I work with athletes on being aggressive and coming into the net a lot,” said head coach Debbie Ashenbrenner. “I like the boys to be the ones controlling the pace of the point and putting their opponent on the defensive end of the game. In practice we work on rushing and attacking the net a lot.”

The training seems to have paid off. Despite the loss of seven out of 10 varsity players from last year, West had a 5-4 record for the season and placed fifth at conference. This success, Ashenbrenner feels, is partially credited to the group of talented underclassmen.

“The freshmen on varsity have really stepped up to the challenge. Competing at the high school level is very different from other matches they have played in the past,” she said. “They are learning a lot this year, and will be the foundation of our team in the future years. It is always beneficial to get a few underclassmen on varsity, so when the seniors graduate, you have experienced athletes to lead the new class of freshmen.”

But the real aptitude of the team doesn’t come only from the variety of skilled players.

“I believe that the strength of this team is its attitude toward matches and practice,” Langkau said. “I always expect to play well and I think our whole team thinks that way.”

Ashenbrenner agrees.

“I feel our team is especially strong in team unity and in competitiveness,” she said. “The boys are able to find ways to win close matches and stay strong under pressure.”

Hopefully, the team chemistry, positive outlook, and aggressive training will be encouraging enough to send a few athletes to the state competition in June.

“We play in a very competitive sectional, so making it to team state is extremely difficult,” said Ashenbrenner. “I am hoping to get a few individuals through to the state tournament, but they will have to get some good wins once the tournament series starts in order to qualify.”

The Wildcats competed at sectionals last night. Those who advanced from that meet will participate at the state meet beginning Thursday, May 31 at the Nielsen Tennis Center in Madison.

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Reader Comments:

	i think west's tennis team did a GREAT job this year. they have great athletes and an awesome head coach!
	comment by Kaylee -- Report Comment
	i can't wait to see my older sister play tennis in 07-08!
	comment by Payton -- Report Comment

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photo by Kailey Lemon

Junior Steve Langkau forcefully returns the ball to his opponent during the meet against the Oshkosh North Spartans. Although Lankau defeated his opponent 6-3, 6-1, the Wildcats lost, 4-3.

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