West Shamokin Tennis End of Season Report

by Jake DeLuca

It hasn’t been the best season for the West Shamokin Wolves tennis team in their first year playing in the Heritage Conference, but they still have their eye on improving for next season.

The Wolves will have three more games next week away against Burrell on Monday, Tuesday the Wolves will host Derry, and Wednesday will be away at Armstrong. West Shamokin is still searching for their first win of the season in what has been a season plagued with some tough breaks. Head Coach Joe Hall explains.

“We only have nine players total, which isn’t a lot and Indiana for example has 22. That’s not counting injuries or illness, which we have had this year. There were days where we had two players out and this season we had to deal with an illness going around the school. Kids had blisters in their mouths and rashes on their legs and it was contagious, so a couple of our players were really in discomfort,” said Hall.

This season the Wolves have had to postpone or cancel a few of their matches. This is because in the Heritage Conference West Shamokin is the only tennis team. This has lead to all of their games being exhibitions which Hall said takes off some of the competitive edge.

“I wish that we could have stayed in our division and let the boys play in the Heritage Conference, because there is no (tennis) competition for us in the Heritage Conference. It is good and competitive and it makes sense for other sports and it keeps them focused which is great, but there isn’t any competition for us,” Hall explained.

It is fair to say that the Wolves season hasn’t gone as planned, but Hall thinks that they can have a better season next year with the right preperation.

“I think for them to be competitive they will have to play all summer. You can’t get good at anything unless you practice – you have to be in shape and you have to practice and that has to come from within.”

Next season the Wolves are only losing two players and they will keep their current number one in Shelby Clowser.

“Shelby will be back at number one and she could have a good year, she’s a very good athlete and she hits the ball well. She’s the best athlete I have ever coached here. Everybody will be coming back next year except for Lauren Schamberg and Kristy Bish. We have three juniors, three sophomores, and one freshman. We hope this years experience will help turn things around next season.”

The Wolves will have three chances next week to earn their first win of the season as they look to improve and finish strong in hopes to carry that over to next season.