Redmond tennis head coach Marceil Whitney knows that the 2008 season won’t be like the glory days of Mustang tennis from 1998-2001, when the team won four consecutive Kingco championships.
But she’s been coaching the sport for long enough to know that teams go through a rebuilding process like the Mustangs did in recent years, and thinks that this year presents an opportunity for her most experienced players to make an impact on the court.
“We have some real strong players,” Whitney said. “This is our third year into the rebuilding (process), and we’re losing seven seniors this year, but we have strong juniors and sophomores who will carry (us).
Leading the way for the ‘Stangs will be one of those juniors, No. 1 singles player Blake Larson, whose has grown and improved since last season.
“It was a tough season for him, but he learned a lot, grew in that, and worked hard through the year,” said the 14-year coach of her best player. “He’s come out to be a better player this year.”
Whitney is also excited to have two talented athletes back in Jarel Murray, a junior who suffered a broken leg last year and couldn’t play, and Eric Kinney, a senior that took last year off. According to Whitney, Kinney is a great all-around athlete and slated to play No. 2 singles.
Among the young guns that will make a difference this season is sophomore Scott Singleton, who contributed to the Mustangs’ only two points in a recent 7-2 loss to Issaquah by winning both his singles and doubles matches.
“I don’t care if it’s a practice or a regular match, (Scott) puts everything he has in it,” Whitney said. “He will be really good not only this year, but his junior and senior year, if he stays healthy and continues to love the sport the way he does now.”
Like most coaches, Whitney believes that the entry of the 3A schools, like tennis powerhouses Skyline and Newport, into 4A Kingco will make her team’s goal of getting back to the top tier of the division much more difficult.
“I think 4A Kingco is really tough and very strong,” she said. “At this point our goals are to stay at the top, whether that’s top five or top four … which will be tough with Skyline and Newport.”
While Whitney would love to see her team finish among the top teams in Kingco, her priority as coach is to make sure her kids are enjoying the sport of tennis.
“The bottom line is that I want to make sure they’re having fun,” Whitney said. “If they enjoy themselves, then they’ll put out their best effort on the court.”
REDMOND TENNIS AT A GLANCE
• Head Coach: Marceil Whitney, 14th season
• Last year: 3-7 record in 4A Kingco
• 2008 turnout: 51 players
• Varsity returners: 9
Top returners
• Jr. Blake Larson: No. 1 singles player last year gained experience playing tough opponents and worked hard to improve his game.
• Sr. Eric Kinney: No. 2 singles player is an all-around athlete who has improved his serving tremendously since sophomore season. Will be hungry to compete after taking junior year off.
• Jr. Jarel Murray: Eager to get back on the court after broken leg kept him away last year. He’s much improved and will be a factor.
Key newcomer
• Soph. Scott Singleton: Young kid has great work ethic and drive. “Every time he steps out on the court he gives 100 percent,” Whitney said. Has potential to carry the program in his junior and senior years if he stays healthy.
Quote from the coach
“Our goals will be to have fun and do better than they did last season, which I think they can do. I think we’ll have a good season in that respect. We’re not planning to take Kingco, and that’s okay.”
Did you know?
Coach Whitney started a non-profit organization five years ago called the Tennis Outreach Program which reaches inner-city youth, using tennis to teach them valuable skills to improve their performance in school and in life. The program will be featured in a later issue of the Redmond Reporter.
