Chiefs split with Mission, Maidens take a loss
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In his last year as the Ronan Head Tennis Coach, Gordon Cummings is hoping to go back to the basics with this year’s squad.
“Tennis is mainly hand-eye coordination,” Cummings said. “Placing the racket on the ball. We will be working on that.”
Cummings has been the head tennis coach for the past 13 years and has also spent time as a freshman volleyball coach. Cummings is looking forward to one last year with some “super kids.”
“This year’s team is filled with kids that are just a joy,” Cummings said.
One of these players is Fisher Shima, who is looking to finish out his senior year with an ace.
“I am just trying to finish better than I did in the past,” Shima said. In 2014 he finished sixth at state and last year finished fifth. “This year I am really working on just having fun. When I think of tennis as a competition, I don’t do as well,” he said.
Shima, who defeated Mission’s Tim VanElst 6-1 and 6-2 at a home match on Thursday, April 7, also wants to improve his serve before the end of the season.
“I just have to go out on the court with a bucket of balls and practice,” Shima said. “A serve is important because it starts out the rally.”
The Chiefs ended their match with a 3-3 split with Mission.
On the girl’s side, Julia Matkovich is hoping to contribute after being injured last year.
“I have been playing tennis since I was in the sixth grade,” Matkovich said. “Missing the end of last season was a bummer, but I am excited to make a comeback this year.”
Matkovich has some goals of her own, but prefers to focus on the entire team improving.
“The girls are getting better and our serves are starting to look nice,” Matkovich said. “We are getting stronger all around.”
Matkovich and her doubles partner, Hannah Moss, won their match due to a forfeit against Mission. Ronan’s Breanna Turpin won her singles match 8-6 and 6-4, but her win was not enough to beat Mission. Ronan Maidens lost 3-2 against Mission.
The Chiefs and Maidens will travel to Darby on Thursday, April 14 for a 3 p.m. match.
Boys results
Singles - Fisher Shima (Ron) def. Tim VanElst 6-1, 6-2; Andrew Esslinger
(Mis) def. Bailey Moss 6-4, 7-5; Nate Doll (Mis) def. Caleb Koble 6-3,
6-1; Warren Caster (Mis) def. Thomas Yellowbird 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Doubles - Ethan Blevins/ Coleman Taylor (Ron) won by forfeit; Andrew
Koehler/ Marc Defrance Koehler (Ron) won by forfeit.
Girls results
Singles - Breanna Turpin (Ron) def. Daisie Vandebos 8-6, 6-4; Brooklinn
Hunts (Mis) def. Morgan Brooks 6-4, 6-2; Alyssa Rith (Mis) def. Jeneya
Burns 6-4, 6-4; Sierra Esslinger (Mis) def. Aurroma Watkins 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles - Julia Matkovich/Hannah Moss (Ron) won by forfeit.1
