Led by young players as well as experienced seniors, the boys’ tennis team is serving up a strong start to the spring sports season.

The team won or tied in its first four competitions, led by senior Thomas Irick and sophomore Elliot Abromeit.

Boys’ tennis coach, Chris Marshall, has watched Irick’s improvements and achievements throughout the past four years. He has high hopes for Irick this season.

“Thomas has put a lot of work into his serve is getting a higher percentage of first serves, which will help him this year and will hopefully help him finish in the highest he has in all four years,” Marshall said.

Irick, a senior singles player, has proven himself to be one of the best to come through the program. Irick has been part of the tennis program since his freshman year when ninth-graders were still part of the junior high schools. Since then, he has played through the program and made a name for himself.

He plays an important role on the team not only as a leader by example, but also as a leader through success.

“Sophomore year, I took seventh at state, and last year I took eighth at state and fourth in Sunflower League,” Irick said.

With these past achievements, he not only plans to add more successes to his individual record, but also to help the team as a whole in their successes, too.

“Every time at practice, I am looking around to see who is struggling, and try to help how can,” Irick said. “I help them with their technique and help them become a better player.”

Irick signed a letter of intent to play tennis at Baker University on April 23.

Another player who has been a standout on the team is Abromeit. Even though he is only a sophomore, he still has a positive impact on the team’s performance. He is a singles player who has had many successes and has set an example for others to follow.

“Last year at a high level of competition, I didn’t perform as well, but this year I should do better since I am more matched in the competition,” Abromeit said.

His forward-thinking attitude plays a part on the team’s performance as well as their mental game. He is helping to prepare players through his past experiences.

“Ensuring that the other players are mentally prepared for all of the matches because that is a really big step in the performance,” Abromeit said.

This season, Irick and Abromeit have won nearly every singles matches they competed in.

“Elliot’s consistency has gotten much better, and he is beginning to understand his game and how to use his strengths to his advantage,” Marshall said. “He is gaining more ability to win over the mediocre players, so as a team we are getting more points.”

With both Thomas and Elliot willing and determined to help the team, they plan to make inexperienced players into players who can build and utilize their strengths.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the kids we have playing do not have a lot of tennis experience, so we are trying to get them in as many matches as we can to build upon that and develop their strengths and utilize their strengths,” Marshall said.