Serving up a successful season

Serving+up+a+successful+season

by Gabe Gilson/Staff Writer

  Simpson men’s tennis started off their season last week. Although the team is not the largest on campus with only six members currently, a number of players are returning from last season. Also featured on this year’s team is a new coach Bill Wright. Wright replaced Daniel Finn who left for a different coaching position in Kentucky. Through all of this, he has found the transition to be good thus far. “It’s been fun,” Wright said. “I’m walking into a situation where they don’t really know me or I know them so my goal is to care about them in teaching them the game.” Wright comes from a tennis background as he played tennis for the Storm before graduating from Simpson in 1992. Wright grew up in Denison and was the captain of the tennis team his senior year for the Storm. Wright is excited to get the season started as he has a few strong returners from last season. One of those returners is junior Noah Saunders from Norwalk. Thus far, Saunders has been happy with the new coach. “Coach is a really good guy, and I hope he can excel the program to the pinnacle of the Iowa Conference,” Saunders said. Another returning player from last season is sophomore Adam Summitt from Johnston. Summitt has also been pleased with what Wright has to offer. “He’s dedicated and hardworking and will be great for us,” Summitt said. The playing season starts out for the Storm on Jan. 30 as they travel to Coe College for a triangular against the Kohawks and Augustana College of Illinois. Sophomore Daniel Schneider is glad to be out competing for the Storm after the offseason. “Hopefully with the new coach we can become more team-oriented and put together a good team and improve from where we were at last year,” Schneider said. “It will be good to see where I am at from last year after not competing for awhile.” Saunders has also been anticipating getting back on the court but has realistic goals for his squad. “I’m expecting the team to try really hard,” Saunders said. “I’m looking forward to the team’s performance (this weekend). Hopefully we can pull out the ‘W’ but we have our work cut out for us.”On Feb. 13, the men will travel to Pella to take on Luther College and Central College. After that, the Storm will have two consecutive weekends in which they will travel to two different colleges in Nebraska for two different triangulars.Also featured on the team this season will be junior Lucas Haack, senior Sampson Shnurman and senior Ben Lampman. Wright is hoping to add a few more players on the roster as he is hoping for eight players on the team. In the long run, Wright hopes the tennis team will have 12 to 15 members.