Tiger tennis team loaded with experience

Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Nevada High School senior Colson Fisher hones his net skills during Monday’s practice at the NHS tennis courts. Fisher enters the 2019 season as Nevada’s No. 2 singles player.
Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

With their season-opener on tap Friday, the Nevada Tigers’ tennis team returns to the court with a veteran-laden squad.

“We have 16 players, with only five (freshman),” said 10th-year Nevada head coach Clayton Wheeler.

Wheeler said he’s hopeful his club can build off last season’s ultra-successful 12-3-1 campaign.

“We are coming off one of the best seasons that (Nevada High) boys’ tennis has had in a long time,” noted Wheeler. “We are hoping that we can continue the success we had last year.”

Led by seniors Tanner Gotschall and Colson Fisher, Nevada’s roster features a dozen upperclassmen.

“We have eight seniors on the team, and will be relying on them greatly because of the amount of experience (they have),” began Wheeler. “This group of players is very talented. We use the phrase ‘play our game’ as sort of a team motto. We have the (ability) and the knowledge, (and) know we can be successful. We just need to stay focused on those points, and let the results speak for themselves.”

This is Nevada’s inaugural season affiliated with the Big 8 Conference, as the Tigers open their ’19 slate Friday against Big 8 cross-division foe Aurora Houn’ Dawgs. The match is slated for 4:30 p.m., at the NHS tennis courts.

“In tennis, every year is different,” said Wheeler, as the Tigers spent the previous four season in the West Central Conference. “All teams we meet will be good competition.”

In addition to their move to the Big 8, the Tigers will face fresh postseason district competition this year. Wheeler indicated the new district assignment will feature even tougher competition for Nevada than in previous years.

“As a coach, I like competing against tough schools,” he said. “It makes our athletes compete at their best.”

Tigers’ projected lineup, 1-6

1) Tanner Gotschall (Sr.)

2) Colson Fisher (Sr.)

3) Gabe Barnes (Sr.)

4) Caleb Theis (Sr.)

5) Evan Rea (Fr.)

6) Spencer Hawkins (Sr.)

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7) Vasant Goswami (Sr.)

8) Gage Turner (Jr.)

9) Joe Hendrix (Sr.)

10) Gage Rubin (Jr.)

11) Ben Sudkamp (Jr.)

12) Holden Petitt (Sr.)

13) Chosen Reichard (Fr.)

14) Russell Brattin (Fr.)

15) Jamin Mosher (Fr.)

16) Jack Niestrath (Jr.)

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