Spring Sports Preview: Owls and Falcons Look to Rebuild Tennis Squads

Westminster

The girls were 11-5 last season, while the boys were 11-3.

The Owls lost five starters, with senior Leslie Rodgers the top returner. She will be the top singles player this spring for coach Scott Warner.

Other players returning are Maddie Davis, Mackenzie and Tara Coles.

The boys were third in the county and coach Fran McCullin has to replace six starters.

Returning for the Owls this year are Mark Hardesty and Ben Waranowski. Newcomers are Derek Meckel and Mike Richmond.

McCullin is in his 29th year as coach, 26 of them at Westminster, the other three at Liberty. He said his top players are Hardesty, Meckel, Nathan Wohlgenmuth, Billy Healy, Warnowski, Richmond, Adam Collins and Corey Fishman.

"We face the daunting task of replacing 6 starters from last year's team. With only one senior on the roster, we will be hard-pressed to repeat the successes of the previous few years, however, it should set us up in good position for the next few years if we improve,’’ said McCullin.

He said Liberty and North Carroll are the teams to beat. The goal for the Owls this Spring is personal improvement.

"We'll be better in May than we are right now,’’ said McCullin.

Winters Mill

The Falcon girls were 6-10 and the boys were 5-11. Winters Mill has co-coaches in Christi Spencer and Matt Miller.

Senior Hailey Hubble will lead the Falcons as the top singles player. Also taking the court for Winters Mill are Amanda Fewster, Caroline Arnold and Nichole Laufert.

The boys return eight players including Sebastian Cuenca, Bryan Gieselman, Adam Morengo and Jake Myers.