MOUNT VERNON – It’s going to be a season of tough choices for the Mount Vernon boys tennis team.
Coach Jeff Jarosz has to decide between putting a freshman at No. 1 singles this season or letting his senior take it this year.
Don’t be surprised, however, if he chooses both. Depending on the situation, you may see senior Jack Staats or you might see freshman Quinn Hoffman. In fact, by the time tournaments roll around, they could be together as a doubles team.
That may be Jarosz’s easiest choice this season. It’s going to depend on who emerges from a group that is short on experience. The COVID-19 pandemic, which wiped out the season last spring, was a big step backward for the Jackets’ boys.
“Last season, we did a lot of practice indoors just to get our kids to have proper form,” Jarosz said. “We were a little bit ahead of the game, and then everything got shut down.”
Staats spent the down time practicing with family and friends.
“I think my serve has improved the most since I played sophomore year,” he said. “I changed it up a little bit and there’s more power in it now.”
Hoffman has been playing since kindergarten. As the No. 1 singles player on the middle school tennis club last year, he is used to competition. Not even the shutdown knocked him off his stride.
“I’m just glad it wasn't a high school season for me, but it was really sad not being able to go out to the court and play,” Hoffman said. “I want to play No. 1 singles and then, eventually, I want to go to college to play tennis.”
Like Staats, Hoffman has a strong serve and forehand. When Jarosz watches the pair hit the ball back and forth, he dreams of the possibilities.
“Right now, it’s neck-and-neck between the two of them,” Jarosz said. “We may put them together to play doubles against some of the better squads. I want them to get a little practice together and get to know each other, because they may play doubles for the sectional tournament.”
Bryan Sabula, a junior, may be a candidate to fill the third singles spot.
“He has some pretty solid shots,” Jarosz said. “He doesn’t hit with a ton of power, but it’s more about consistency.”
Like Hoffman, sophomore Alex Buehrer is a product of the middle school club.
“He’s a 10th-grader with a very good forehand and a very good serve,” Jarosz said. “We have to work on his backhand.”
Buehrer will be part of a doubles team that may include sophomore Toby Boggs, a soccer player, who is new to the tennis team.
“Toby has a lot of athletic ability and good footwork,” Jarosz said. “He is learning really fast.”
Junior Beckett Pechon-Elkins was part of the 2019 team as a freshman. He could also be part of first doubles.
”Part of my second doubles team will be whoever doesn’t make first doubles,” Jarosz said. “He would be the stronger player in the second doubles team.”
Holden Bleiler, a junior, is new to tennis as well but is showing promise. So is freshman Wade Brown. Freshman Sawyer Boggs and senior Kiefer Meade could also have a shot at second doubles. Several players may rotate into the second doubles spot.
