The Lady Panthers tennis team is learning fast this season.
Thats because the first three matches of the year for Montezuma-Cortez High School have been against some of Region-8s top schools.
M-CHS hosted 5A teams Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central last Friday and Saturday at the Jim Harkendorff Tennis Courts. The Lady Panthers lost each match, 7-0.
M-CHS (0-3, 0-3 5A/4A Region-8) has yet to win a match point this season. But coach Dan Wood feels the first couple weeks of the year will serve as a great learning experience for his young squad.
Im very pleased with how much the girls have improved, Wood said. We have some girls here that didnt play any tennis at all, until this year. They came out here with good athleticism and their learning curve is real steep. Even in the face of this adversity here, their attitude is really good.
The Lady Tigers (4-0, 3-0 Region-8) of Grand Junction dominated the Lady Panthers on Friday to sweep the match.
Lady Panthers Kristin Parker, Sadee Threlkeld and Nicole Demby lost at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles to Kylie Pond (1-6, 2-6), Nicky Arja (0-6, 1-6) and Anne Hughes (1-6, 0-6).
In doubles, Charley Stewart and Emily Walck were downed 1-6, 4-6 by Stephanie Skinner and Sierra Filatze in the No. 1 match. No. 2s saw Raena Conklin and Mary Wright lose 0-6, 0-6 to Bree Ziola and Ruby Gutierrez. The No. 3 team of Jaci Veach and Jessica Quinonez was defeated 1-6, 3-6 by Natalie Sufka and Carsyn Fritzler. Sage Kramer and Tara Abrams were bested at No. 4s by Baily Hilty and Kristen Balke, 4-6, 0-6.
On Saturday, M-CHS was also swept by the Central Warriors.
However, the Lady Panthers made the match more competitive.
Parker won the first set at No. 1 singles, 6-4, over Megan Bauer. Unfortunately for the youngster, Bauer prevailed 6-0 and 10-0 in the tiebreaker for the win.
Its kind of nice playing No. 1, said Parker, a transfer student from Montana. Its definitely different. The competition is more intense, but its nice. I can actually improve my game. Im definitely liking it here, because the competition is a lot better. I can work on improving.
Parker knows what she needs to improve on.
I need to focus more, think about my shots and stay in the game, she said.
Threlkeld lost at No. 2s, 0-6, 1-6, to Jamie Johnson. Kearra Boggs moved up from junior varsity to compete at No. 3 singles. She had a tough draw against Katie Murphy, losing 0-6, 0-6.
Kearra hasnt played that much, but her serving is getting better, Wood said. Her athleticism is starting to really help her game. Im pleased with her.
Walck and Stewart were beaten at No. 1 doubles, 1-6, 2-6, by Emma Beckstead and Hannah Keeling. Conklin and Wright were on the wrong end of the No. 2 doubles match, falling 0-6, 2-6 to Sara Clow and Keira Trujillo. Veach and Quinonez played tough at No. 3s, but lost a tough one, 3-6, 1-6, to Bryce Lambert and Claudia Montano. Kramer and Abrams lost at No. 4s, 1-6, 1-6, to Deedee Romo and Stacey Barragan.
Ive been saying that this is practice for regionals, Wood said. For example, we started getting a little conservative today and were trying to keep the ball in play. Were learning to hit long, hard, strong, winning tennis shots. Im more interested in having their skill increasing for regionals and next year, because of all the young players. Thats my goal.
M-CHS will step out of region play with two days of matches Friday and Saturday at the Delta County tournament at Delta High School.
That will be more even competition for us, said Wood about the Delta tourney. Well still have some good teams. Central is going to be there. Im just hoping that we can win some of our matches and do well there, and keep preparing for regionals in May.
Match times are yet to be determined.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.