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Posts Tagged ‘tennis’

McKenzie Bailey

McKenzie Bailey gets shady. (John Fisken photos)

Allie Hanigan prepares to unleash a lethal forehand.

Allie Hanigan prepares to unleash a lethal forehand.

Valen Trujillo is locked and loaded and ready to serve an ace.

Valen Trujillo is locked and loaded and ready to serve an ace.

Samantha Martin

Samantha Martin keeps both eyes on the ball, I think. She is wearing sunglasses, so who knows for sure?

Aura Corredor

   Aura Corredor names her serve before letting it fly. “Say hello to my little friend … The Knee Shredder.”

You play tennis in warm weather? How quaint.

This is spring on Whidbey, and even when the sun does come out, the thermometer will be lucky to be scraping 55. The winds? Ye-gads…

But, being of tougher material than the fancy lads and ladies of places like Florida and So Cal, the Coupeville High School girl netters kicked off their season Monday with a 4-3 win over visiting Port Townsend/Chimacum.

And, if the rain holds off, they’ll be right back at it today with a 3:30 match against Friday Harbor.

On hand Monday to catch the weather-ready fashion choices and ferocious forehands on display was traveling photo man John Fisken.

If you like his work, pop over to the link below and possibly purchase some. A percentage of all sales goes to fund college scholarships for Wolf student athletes.

Use the coupon code EB57724962 (buy before April 1) and you’ll nab a 15% discount off your purchase, as well.

http://www.cascadeathletics.com/index.php?act=view_gallery&gallery=5772&league=2&page_name=photo_store&school=0&school_year=2013-14&sport=0

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Jazmine Franklin moves in for a volley. (John Fisken photo)

Jazmine Franklin moves in for a volley. (John Fisken photo)

Jazmine Franklin plays to her own beat.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who teamed with double partner Aura Corredor to win their first-ever high school tennis match Monday (an 8-3 doubles victory against a duo from Port Townsend/Chimacum), is a huge music fan.

“I’m extremely passionate about music,” Franklin said. “I have a musical family, so the rhythm comes easy, but I must admit, I’m a terrible singer.”

This is her first try at playing a high school sport, so, naturally, she was swayed by the pied piper of Wolf athletics, tennis coach Ken Stange, who traditionally brings in numerous first-time athletes.

“It looked fun,” Franklin said. “I enjoy the small team and how the opponents are so nice. I like how easy it was to improve by practicing.”

An ASB board rep, she plans to expand her school activities next year. For now, she’s enjoying her time on the hardcourts and working hard on fine-tuning her skills.

“I think my strength is power,” Franklin said. “I could work on my aim.”

She credits her mother as the main inspiration in her life (“My mom is an extremely hard worker who has influenced my drive in the things I do”) and wants to stake an early reputation as a winner on the court.

“My goal is to win three matches in a row with Aura, and to possibly become the number four doubles team.”

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Jacki Ginnings, seen here last season, won her first varsity singles match Monday. (John Fisken photo)

Jacki Ginnings, seen here last season, won her first varsity singles match Monday. (John Fisken photo)

Ginnings, sporting her Player of the Match reward.

Ginnings, sporting her Player of the Match reward. (Ken Stange photo)

Not even the combined forces of two schools can topple the Wolves.

Coupeville High School ran into its future Olympic League rivals, Port Townsend and Chimacum, Monday in its girls’ tennis opener and overcame the wind and the unholy union of Redskins and Cowboys, pulling out a 4-3 win.

With two wins in both singles and doubles, the Wolves avenged a loss from last season and had multiple highlights.

Freshman Valen Trujillo won her first time out, teaming with Ana Luvera for a key doubles win, while a former doubles player who has converted to singles won the first Player of the Match honor (it comes with a stylish necklace) from CHS coach Ken Stange.

Soccer star Jacki Ginnings played in several varsity doubles matches as a sophomore, teaming with Micky LeVine, but Monday she stepped on the court alone for the first time.

Having earned the squad’s #2 singles position in a preseason tourney, she more than held her own against a player not from her own team.

Jacki played with both aggression and finesse,” Stange said. “She gutted out a tough second set to earn her first-ever singles victory. Hooray for her!

“She opened big, playing consistent tennis as she cruised in the first set,” he added. “She was mentally tough, scrapped and hustled.”

Complete results:

Varsity:

#1 Singles — Allie Hanigan beat Frances Sheldon-O’Neal 6-3, 6-1

“Allie was at her best today when she was keeping the ball low to the ground, making her opponent unable to tee off on a big shot. It was excellent counter-punch tennis.”

#2 Singles — Jacki Ginnings beat An Nguyen 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)

#3 Singles — Micky LeVine lost to Olivia Baird 6-1, 6-2

Micky found out she’d be playing singles about four days ago. She’s very athletic, and handled herself well against a player who was basically a wall. The girl just didn’t miss.”

#1 Doubles — Samantha Martin/Sydney Aparicio lost to Rachel Maki/Sara Allen 6-2, 6-4

“This was Sydney’s first-ever high school tennis match, and she, as well as Sam, played well. They may face some struggles early, but they both have skills and they both have high ceilings. I think they will find their groove.”

#2 Doubles — McKenzie Bailey/Wynter Thorne lost to Vy Nguyen/Casi Rowland 3-6, 6-2, 10-5

“This one was a heart breaker. They learned a couple of valuable lessons that will serve them well. They are going to be a fierce #2 team.”

#3 Doubles —  Ana Luvera/Valen Trujillo beat Amy Plastow/Rachel Smith 6-2, 6-1

“They were too much for their opponents. No matter who they play at #3, they’ll be tough to beat.”

#4 Doubles — Maureen Rice/Haleigh Deasy beat Neena Milton/Makenzi Richie 6-0, 6-1

Maureen and Haleigh took it to a couple of rookies.”

JV:

#5 Doubles — Jazmine Franklin/Aura Corredor beat Jordyn Johnson/Tessa Rasmussen 8-3

“It was the first ever match for our girls, and they won against another pair of rookies. What a great way to start the year for Jazmine and Aura!”

#6 Doubles — Ivy Luvera/Maureen Rice led 3-0 when the call of the ferry ended the match.

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Allie Hanigan -- numero uno on the hardcourts in 2014.

Allie Hanigan — numero uno on the hardcourts in 2014.

She came. She saw. She kicked her teammates rears.

Living up to her advance billing as the top returning Coupeville High School girls’ tennis player, senior Allie Hanigan successfully defended her hardcourt honor and will enter the season as the #1 singles player for the Wolves.

She survived a pre-season team tourney to claim the title, while junior Jacki Ginnings, who played as part of a doubles team with Micky LeVine last season, claimed runner-up honors.

The netters, who will be the first CHS team to kick off the spring season at home when they host Port Townsend Monday, Mar. 17 (4 PM), are still shuffling players as coach Ken Stange looks for the perfect combinations.

Recent partnerings include new doubles duos comprised of Samantha Martin and Sydney Aparicio and basketball buddies Wynter Thorne and McKenzie Bailey.

“We’re rounding it all out,” Stange said.

And, while he may tinker with his lineup up until the last moment, and then some more after that, he’ll do so with one thing set in stone — Hanigan is The Woman. End of story.

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Zen and the art of tennis. (Ken Stange photo)

Zen and the art of tennis. (Ken Stange photo)

We’re four days into the start of spring sports and we already have a winner for best story.

Ladies and gentlemen, Coupeville High School tennis guru Ken Stange.

Today at tennis practice, one of my players was having trouble keeping her lead foot firmly planted while serving.

It’s a common mistake volleyball players make when transitioning to tennis.

Despite our efforts, she just couldn’t keep that foot down!

I decided to lay down on the court and hold her foot down so she could learn how to serve properly.

After missing the first two tries, she hit a great serve.

However, her racquet followed through directly into my head!

Game. Set. Match. And still the undisputed champion.

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