Lost to graduation are 35 singles wins and another 20 in doubles matches, an Eastern South Dakota Conference runner-up doubles finish and an ESD singles championship from the 2012 Aberdeen Central girls tennis program.
No matter.
Returning is a solid core of veterans that posted nearly 100 singles victories, three ESD singles titles and six top-six finishes at the state tournament, while helping the Golden Eagles to a 19-5 record and a runner-up finish in the ESD team standings.
That, however, was last year.
Golden Eagles head coach Lisa Link said last year's results are not a dwelling point for this year.
"At this point in the season, our focus is primarily going to be on improving with every match we play," said Link. "Whether it's in the skills, the communication, point development or execution of our points - whatever is going to happen is going to happen for the sake of improvement with every match we play."
Leading the way will be four returning varsity members - Kristen Hanson, Erica Hanson, Paige Prissel and Ashley Thone - who will provide both the cornerstone and springboard for the 2013 program. All four team members will bring a steady presence honed by championship success on the court to the team.
Both Kristen and Erica Hanson and Prissel won ESD singles competition titles last season. Prissel also finished second in fifth-flight singles at the state level and teamed with Thone to bring home a fourth-place finish in ESD doubles. The duo followed that up with a sixth place finish at state.
Thone advanced to the championship match in fifth flight singles at the state tournament and finished second. The Hansons finished third in doubles at the league tournament and sixth at state.
The Golden Eagles began pre-season practice sessions last week. Team members have been participating in challenge matches, which will help fill the varsity line-up slots left by departing seniors Diana Peck and Kate Allen last year.
Link said the practices and challenge matches have been beneficial in moving the team forward.
"There's areas we've improved a lot on since last season," she said. "There are a lot of girls who put a lot of time in this summer to improve their game."
Link said local tennis leagues and clinics as well as out-of-town competitions have provided the girls with valuable opportunities to sharpen their on-court skills.
The extra experience will come in handy as Golden Eagles will face stiff competition almost immediately to begin the season. They face two of the top three teams at the 2012 state tournament in the first weekend of play.
"If we can continue to improve along the way," said Link, "results are going to fall in place."
Link will be assisted by Jessie Daw at the varsity and junior varsity levels and Brittany Konda in the middle school.
|Schedule|
August-23-24 Sioux Falls Invitational; 30 Brookings Quad; 31 Brookings Jamboree.
September-3 Milbank Dual/Pierre Middle School Dual; 5 Aberdeen Central Triangular (O'Gorman/Watertown); 7 Huron Quad; 10 Madison Dual/Vermillion Dual/Mitchell Middle School Dual; 12 Watertown Middle School Dual; 17 Pierre Invitational (JV); 19 Watertown Middle School Dual; 20 Rapid City Central Dual/Rapid City Stevens Dual; 21 Elliott Extravaganza; 24 Milbank Middle School Dual/Milbank Dual; 27-28 Pierre Invitational; 30 Huron Middle School Invitational.
October-3 ESD Championships; 10-12 SDHSAA State Championships.
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