The Press-Dispatch

August 18, 2021

The Press-Dispatch

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D-2 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 The Press-Dispatch Lana R. Hel ms, DDS , MSD, PC Making and sharing SMILES! Be a Winner! Stay in school, study hard and prepare for a great future. Board-Certified in Orthodontics for children, adolescents and adults Appointments Monday-Friday 812-254-4500 2116 State St., Washington • 2848 Ford Rd., Vincennes www.lanahelms.com GO CHARGERS! Willis & Company, p.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS Gregory K. Willis, CPA Carla D. Willis, CPA 705 MAIN ST., PETERSBURG (812) 354-6274 FAx: (812) 354-6974 Members American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Indiana CPA Society Pictured above is the 2020-21 Pike Central boys' tennis team. They are (l to r): Parker Knust, Nate Carter, Eli Arnold, Adon Lemond and Jayden Bolin. Photo by Matthew Haycraft Small, but promising tennis team out for 2021 By Andy Heuring Boys' tennis at Pike Cen- tral has a new beginning as all five players are freshmen. "This summer was great," said Charger Coach Brent Beck. He said the kids came out, both boys and girls, to the summer program and worked hard. "A lot of people say we have five kids. It isn't like we are shaking the trees and hop- ing to get some warm bodies. These boys have bought in and have been playing middle school with Coach Phil Knust for years. They have an idea of what they are doing," said Beck. "These guys are ahead of 95 percent of the freshmen coming into the season I see," said Beck. When they start the season, they will have Eli Arnold at number one singles. "He has been on the middle school team for the last three years. He had dedicated a lot of time to tennis. He is a tennis player, he works at it and appreciates it. In basketball, you have gym rats. Eli is a court rat." Beck said Arnold has a sol- id game. "He is pretty mo- bile, can cover the court and hits against someone who is a power player and he can ad- just to a pusher. He has a pret- ty well-rounded game for a freshman." Parker Knust is middle school coach Knust's son. He is expected to play num- ber two singles. "He has been playing tennis since it is hard to tell. He is one of our biggest hitters and has a nice, big first serve. Power strokes are his strength, but a 14 can be a weak- ness, when you over hit it," said Beck. Nate Carter is slotted at number three singles. He is a three-sport athlete, as he plays baseball and basketball as well. "Na- te is fairly new to tennis. He has only had a racket in his hand about a year. He doesn't try to overpower it and he is not afraid to grind it out. He listens and has the mak- ings to be a pretty good play- er in tennis and other sports." Aidon Lemond and Jayden Bolin are set to play doubles. "Aidon has played on our doubles team the last cou- ple of years in middle school. He is probably our most im- proved player so far this year. He is starting to under- stand the game and improve his ground strokes. He real- ly enjoys being on the court. Jayden is a pretty athletic kid. He is fairly new to the game and learning the game as he goes. I feel pretty comfortable with him at number one dou- bles," said Beck. Beck said anyone who wants to play can still join the team. He said the goals for this year are "just to continue to grow and try to look at where we have come from at the be- ginning of the summer. It is has been two or three months and I have seen so much im- provement in their skills. Are we gong to be able to compete against the top tier teams? That will be tough, but when we play some of the younger teams, we should be competi- tive," said Beck. "Wins aren't our top prior- ity this year. But next year, I would like to think we are competing with the top teams. The long-term goals are ideal- ly by end of next season and realistically their junior and senior season, we want to be not just good, but great." BOYS' VARSITY TENNIS ❚ Wednesday, Aug. 18 – North Posey – 5:30 p.m. at North Posey ❚ Saturday, Aug. 21 – North Davies Invite – 12 p.m. at North Daviess ❚ Wednesday, Aug. 25 – Tecumseh – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Washington – 4:30 p.m. at Washington ❚ Wednesday, Sept. 1 – South Spencer – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Sept. 2 – Waldo J. Wood Memorial – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 7 – South Knox – 5 p.m. at South Knox ❚ Wednesday, Sept. 8 – Southridge – 4:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Sept. 9 – Tell City – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Monday, Sept. 13 – Forest Park – 5 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Sept. 16 – Boonville – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Monday, Sept. 20 – Heritage Hills – 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Princeton – 5:30 p.m. at Princeton ❚ Thursday, Sept. 23 – Vincennes Lincoln – 5 p.m. at Pike Central Wins aren't our top priority this year. But next year, I would like to think we are competing with the top teams." - Coach Brent Beck net edition pressdispatch.net/edition Web, Smartphone, Tablet 812-354-8500 • 820 Poplar St., Petersburg, IN • ads@pressdispatch.net Get your news anytime and anywhere!

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