Wolverine tennis team has 32 players turn out

Wolverine tennis will have 32 players on the courts this year. Of those 32, eight are returning varsity players and five are seniors. Coach Angie Soulen said this should be a great season for the Wolverines.
 Soulen said that she expects that all the players will be fun to watch: from the beginners from whom you will see amazing improvement throughout the short season as well as the returning state competitors Emma Tolman and Denica McClellan.
 The Wolverines had 16 seniors graduate last year, so there is room for new players to rise up as leaders for the team.
 “We’ve always enjoyed our time on the court together as a team so I think having fun, enjoying the game, learning how to be a strong mental competitor will continue to be our strengths,” Soulen said.
 Soulen shared that  once again she expects Fruitland and Parma to not only be the Wolverines toughest competitors, during the regular season, but will also be their biggest competition at the state level. The SRV league dominates 3A tennis across the state.
 Soulen shared that although she has a younger team, Weiser tennis has grown in both numbers and skill in the last few years thanks to the middle school program.
 “It helped us become the success we are now, wouldn’t be possible without them,” Soulen said.
 The team will have a little bit of a different season this year not only from losing a season last year, but also by changing the schedule for this year’s season. There will be no competition against the Oregon schools and no tournament play. In total, that cut out six matches/tournaments for the Wolverines. Soulen plans to replace those with some intramural matches amongst the Wolverines.
 Soulen is returning as head coach for the eighth year, and joining her will be new assistant coach, Scott Manser and long time volunteer coach, Judd Tolman.
 As they prepare for their first match, the Wolverines are working on getting back to the basics: recalling strokes, working on footwork, and focusing on mental strategies to play successfully. They will also be working on player placement that will be the best for the team overall.
 For the first match, the Wolverines will take on the Caldwell Cougars at home on March 14 at 4 p.m. Their first league match will be against Payette on April 6.