Cascia Hall Boys Tennis
This could be an exciting year for the Cascia Hall boys tennis team under the leadership of head coach Kristin Liles. With several returning starters, Cascia Hall has the potential to be a tough out for any competitor.
“The boys are ready to compete for the 5A state title this year with four returning varsity players, one senior, one junior and two sophomores. These four have been working very hard in the off-season playing tournaments, doing to drills and getting in the gym. They are well prepared, and I expect all of their hard work to pay off with a highly successful season,” said coach Liles.
Sophomore Benjamin Kendrick is one of the returning starters and continues to make waves as people have taken notice. Coach Liles said Kendrick played No. 1 singles with the confidence of a seasoned upperclassman as a freshman last year.
“He was very successful in 6A and we expect him to be at the top of 5A this season. He leads by example with a willingness to do the hard work. Benjamin sees each match as an opportunity to improve his game. He will be key to the success of this team and loves playing the best of the best,” said coach Liles.
“ ”Height is something coaches consider when talking doubles matchups. For coach Liles, two players stand out: Caleb Walton and Gavin Warren.
“Caleb is the tallest on the team making him a valuable doubles player as well as a great option for No. 2 singles. He does what is asked of him with an excellent attitude and confidence. Every match is winnable to him. He celebrates the little wins as well as the big ones and takes loses as challenges to overcome in the next match,” said coach Liles.
Warren comes into the season looking like a new player for the Commandos.
“Gavin has grown a lot over this year going from shortest to second tallest on the team. I am looking forward to how this helps him on the court and the confidence it will give playing a bigger game. Gavin is a great singles and doubles player, so I expect him to see a lot of court time at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles,” said coach Liles.
Also keep an eye on Alex Stallings who is known as a great teammate and a solid player on the court.
“Alex is respected by teammates and opponents alike as he always demonstrates excellent sportsmanship. I appreciate that he is level-headed on the court and that makes him a great doubles partner. He challenges his teammates to make good choices, to put the team first and to represent Cascia Hall with the highest standards,” said coach Liles.
With a tough schedule on the horizon, the Commandos are excited to take on opponents at several tournaments including Union, Jenks, Bishop Kelley, Ada, Bixby and Edmond North.
