The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1477088
C-8 Wednesday, August 24, 2022 The Press-Dispatch S mile Dr. Haviland Watkins DMD Dr. Kenneth R. Troutman DDS, FAGD 202 E. 17th Street HUNTINGBURG 812-683-2006 418 S. S.R. 57 WASHINGTON 812-254-7922 Visit our website: TroutmanFamilyDentistry.com Schedule your appointment! Dental Implants • General Dentistry • Teeth Whitening Cosmetic Dentistry • Gum Disease Treatment Same-Day Crowns Emergency and Urgent Dental Care Preventative Dentistry S mile WITH confidence confidence WE CATER TO kids & teens By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central boys tennis team is in the process of climbing the ladder to success. Last year the team consist- ed of five freshmen. They played a full schedule of games knowing they were going to take their lumps on the varsity level. But all five gained valuable varsity experience. This year four of those five have returned with a full year of varsi- ty experience and another year of maturity. Tennis Coach Brent Beck said while they lost one of those who played last year they have picked up two more sophomores and a fresh- man, which when they get their re- quired practices in should give them a full line-up. "I don't know how many matches we won last year it wasn't many . . . we didn't really have a goal of win- ning a set number of matches. It was more of just going out and compet- ing ever y night," said Beck. This year it is different. After a year's experience at most positions. "We should be in most matches. It won't be a shooter's chance or gam- bler's chance. On most evenings there should be three matches we can win," said Beck of this season. This year's line-up will start where it did last year with Eli Arnold at number one. Beck said Arnold played number one all season unless he was injured or quarantined. "He is as competitive a kid as we have had in a really long time. He has a high tennis IQ. He is a kid who would fit in with our top teams from the past," said Beck. Sophomore Adon Lemond is play- ing at number two singles this year. Beck said last year Lemond played mostly at number one doubles. "He is skilled enough to play both dou- bles and singles, but he has earned the right to play in that spot (two sin- gles). He hits the ball with pace and has nice touch as well," said Beck. Nate Carter is in the number three singles spot, where he played most of last season. He also played a little doubles as well. "He covers the court well. He is a hard worker and ver y athletic. Nate should fit in well at the three spot for us," said Beck. The Chargers' number one dou- bles has Parker Knust and J. J. Bel- more paired. Knust played both singles and doubles last year. "He really does a nice job in doubles. He is what we are looking for in a doubles player. He had a nice live arm on his ser ves and can hit the overhead well. He can play doubles or singles, but dou- bles is just a natural fit for him." Kaden Englert and Ethan Mann are both new to tennis. Mann partic- ipated in summer workouts with the tennis team. "Hopefully once ever y- one gets their minimum practices in they will be at number two doubles for the Chargers. Beck said this year is the second step on the ladder for last year's group of freshmen who are climb- ing to get to be a strong tennis team in the conference and area. He said they just need to keep playing and improving. "We want to keep climb- ing the ladder, when we get to their junior and senior years we will be a top rung team," said Beck. Beck has a new assistant coach this year in Trey Wornica, and Phil Knust heads up the boys middle school program. VARSITY BOYS' TENNIS ❚ Wednesday, Aug. 24 — Tecumseh — 5:30 p.m. at Tecumseh ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 30 — Washington — 4:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Wednesday, Aug. 31 — South Spencer — 5:30 p.m. at South Spencer ❚ Thursday, Sept. 1 — Wood Memorial — 5:30 p.m. at Wood Memorial ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 6 — South Knox — 5 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Wednesday, Sept. 7 — Southridge — 5 p.m. at Southridge ❚ Thursday, Sept. 8 — Tell City — 5:30 p.m. at Tell City ❚ Monday, Sept. 12 — Forest Park — 5 p.m. at Forest Park ❚ Thursday, Sept. 15 — Boonville — 5:30 p.m. at Boonville ❚ Monday, Sept. 19 — Heritage Hills — 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Hills ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 20 — Princeton Comm — 5:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Sept. 22 — Vincennes Lincoln — 5 p.m. at Vincennes Lincoln Pike Central 2022 boys' tennis team members are: (l to r) Coach Brent Beck, Parker Knust, JJ Belmore, Nate Carter, Eli Arnold, Adon Lemond, Kaden Englert and Asst. Coach Trey Wornica. Tennis team keeps climbing the ladder net edition pressdispatch.net/edition Web, Smartphone, Tablet Streamline the Headline! 812-354-8500 • 820 Poplar St., Petersburg, IN • ads@pressdispatch.net