Fort Scott tennis season begins Tuesday

Saturday, March 12, 2011

FORT SCOTT -- Tennis season approaches quickly. In fact, Fort Scott High School's season begins Tuesday when the Tigers travel to Independence for a season-opening tournament.

Fort Scott head coach Lynn Barr has 17 players out and has been able to get more practice time outdoors this season than in the past few years.

"We've had pretty good practices," Barr said. "We're nowhere where we'd like to be right now. But last Friday and Monday were the only days so far when we couldn't practice. So we've practiced eight times outside. We're coming along pretty good."

The Tigers also have a junior varsity tournament at Pittsburg on Thursday. But then they'll have spring break, which will make them inactive until March 28 when they host Nevada in the customary varsity/junior varsity best-of-nine dual.

"Hopefully, the guys will play some during the break," Barr said. "We practice two weeks and then have a week off. That's what makes it nice to get some match action in before the break."

There are four seniors out for the Tigers this year, including Colton Grillott, who qualified for the Kansas Class 4A State Tournament last season with then-senior Charlie Sercer. The pair had a 20-13 record together. Also returning is Ben Bristley, who had an 11-13 record in singles. Dillon Peel had some varsity time in singles and with two doubles partners and picked up 9 victories altogether. Kyle Kelly played mostly doubles in his varsity matches and was 4-2 with partner Bryce Daly.

Daly is one of four juniors. Kyle Altic saw the most varsity time last year, going 12-7 in singles. Also on the roster are Matt Hull, Michael Flater and Wyatt Hulbert.

Sophomores are Davis Drake, Austin Sather, Brett Allen, Austin Rogers and Hayden Barr. Freshmen are Gage Addington, Marcus Brennan and Chad Haslett.

Barr says his lineup is not firmly set yet. He anticipates Grillott and Altic will be his No. 1 doubles team most of the year. They may not start together as Altic's left shoulder, injured during basketball season, is still healing. He's just been able to use his left arm in the past couple of days.

Bristley is the candidate for No. 1 singles with Peel expected to begin the year at No. 2 singles. Barr says he hasn't picked the players for his No. 2 doubles team yet as several players are under consideration.

Independence, which has won the Southeast Kansas League title the last 10 years and 21 of the last 22, is clearly the favorite to repeat again. The Bulldogs finished third at Class 4A State last season.

After that, Barr feels like the league will be open. Iola loses Kent Toland, who finished as the State runner-up in singles, and could be down. Parsons lost a few players but is usually strong. Chanute has lost several players and Pittsburg has several returning.

"We've got four (varsity) players returning," Barr noted. "We only graduated two but that does leave a couple of holes to fill. But after Independence, I think the league is going to be a dogfight."

Tuesday's action begins at 3 p.m.