Tennis players are coming along well
CARMEN GEORGE

According to the Yosemite High School Boys’ Assistant Tennis Coach, Dave Hamm, the team has done well so far, and the team's many new young players have, “really responded and are really coming along.”The team’s head coach is Stan Lawrence.

The team had a huge 9-0 victory over Kerman in March and April 20 the team barely lost to San Joaquin Memorial, 5-4. As of April 22, the team had also taken two victories against Selma and had won against Chow-chilla.

The close match between SJM was a “highpoint” for the YHS team, according to Hamm, stating that the YHS team was very close to taking it for a victory. “For a lot of new players, they are doing great,” smiled Hamm.
The boys’ tennis team only has two seniors this year out of the 23 who came out for the team, leaving lots of possibilities for improvement and growth in the future.

One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching for Hamm is the opportunity for him to see his players “really getting into the game and learning to hit the ball hard while still keeping it in the court.”

The YHS team is full of talented tennis players this season, one of whom is junior Nolan Fitzpatrick who is ranked first overall in varsity singles for the team as of April 27. “Tim (Springer) and I are playing doubles together this year and we are hoping to make it to valley,” stated Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick is also first on the team for varsity doubles along with Tim Springer. Second on the team for varsity singles is freshman Hans Mosher.
For 15-year-old Mosher this is his first year ever playing on a tennis team. “I’m really impressed with how well the new people are doing this year,” said Fitzpatrick. Following Mosher in third is Michael Vaughn.

Some other members of the varsity team as of April 27 include Brandon Wright, ranked fourth and followed by Robby Klang, Trevor Hixson and Adrian Hernandez.

The tennis team stood 2-4 in league and 5-8 overall as of April 22. The season started in February and will go until the end of the school year. Over the summer some of the tennis team will also have the opportunity to play in various junior tournaments run by the Central California Tennis Association.
Coach Hamm also reflected on the difficult aspect of tennis stating that, “if you’re tired in tennis you aren’t given the option of a substitute like in most sports, you have to stay out there and duke it out. When you have good athletes out there cranking the ball you don’t want to be in the way,” said Hamm.

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