Strength doesn’t have to come in numbers.
There is no point in hiding the fact that Mountain View tennis wishes it possessed a full roster.
Instead of enjoying crowded tryout sessions, coach Josh Marty witnessed six players show up to the courts outside MVHS before the season.
After graduating every component of their 2019 starting singles lineup, the Mountain Lions arrive at each meet holding just enough individuals to play the singles sets all the way through while fielding only one group in the doubles realm.
But if you happen to stroll past an MV event on the courts, you’d probably assume each member of the team is fighting to maintain his job given the intensity and focus the Mountain Lions portray when swinging the racket.
“A big part of it is that they know they’re the underdogs, and they’ve been embracing that so far,” Marty said.
Beyond the sheer sparsity itself, one must take a look within the numbers to truly recognize the significance of the squad’s mature approach.
Utilizing the role of David as fuel amongst a Goliath-like Class 4A Region 4 warrants praise alone –– rather than the circumstance creating doubt and discouragement.
However, through four events in the shortened campaign, the Mountain Lions are fearlessly rising to the occasion despite their abundance of youth.
With four underclassmen in the mix, MV’s patient poise continues leaving Marty in awe –– which he particularly applauded following the team’s performance at the Thompson Valley Invitational on Aug. 14.
“We’ve got a young team, and we played against pretty good players there,” Marty said. “But we were winning games when we weren’t supposed to and taking them to deuce, getting them frustrated. With all the frustration and emotions flying, my guys were as cool as can be. I was really proud of their character and the way they competed.”
Marty believes the admirable demeanor stems from respect for the sport’s inherent challenges. Hunter Todd, the Mountain Lions’ one senior, agrees with this notion while concurring that MV’s small roster is indeed playing a role in the group’s resilient mindset and evident improvements.
After all, considering the team’s size, manufacturing a tight-knit culture where no one is afraid to hold others accountable is easily achievable.
“We’re working really hard this year, and it’s definitely paying off,” Todd said. “We’re playing much better, and we’re much more aggressive at the net than we have been in the past. The fact that we have so few players has made it easy to motivate each other and push each other to do well.”
Watching the younger, gritty Mountain Lions step up has jolted extra life into Todd as he looks to put an emphatic stamp on the closing stages of his career. And though the senior’s role was more defined than most entering the season, Todd is also starting from square one like many of his surrounding underclassmen in a sense.
The senior operated in Marty’s No. 1 doubles slot alongside sophomore Cameron Borchert last year. Todd subsequently took his talents to MV’s No. 1 singles domain to begin 2020 in light of multiple graduations.
While doing so could have made for a tricky transition, this certainly hasn’t been the case thus far through the season’s early segments. With Todd’s strategic, flexible style of play in mind, the seamless transformation doesn’t surprise Marty in the least.
“He’s been ready for the challenge,” the coach said. “Even when he was playing doubles, he was neck and neck with the seniors who were playing singles. He’s a thinker out there. He likes to strategize and make adjustments. Singles really allows him to do that.”
As Todd specifically hones in on developing “consistency in (his) serves,” MV’s driving force is progressively seizing leadership duties as well.
Although, because of his teammates’ aforementioned veteran-esque attitude, he hasn’t had to keep the Mountain Lions in line as much as initially expected.
“All of them are so motivated,” he said. “It’s almost like I don’t really have to lead. But during our warmups and stuff, I’m making sure no one is slacking off. Making sure that we’re hitting the ball with the strings, making sure that our footwork, our hands, our eyes are focused on the ball.”
Aside from Todd at No. 1 singles, MV still has a decent amount of figuring out to do regarding its rotation going forward.
Marty is still somewhat feeling things out as the Mountain Lions prepare for a home clash against University next Thursday. However, it’s safe to anticipate Borchett continuing to hold down the fort at No. 2 singles as freshmen duke it out for the third spot.
Meanwhile, junior Noah Winbourn and freshman Alex Van Heel –– brother of former contributor Jackson Van Heel –– emerge as likely candidates to settle into MV’s lone doubles pair.
Regardless of who plays where, daily progression is the motto. Even if the Mountain Lions walk away from a practice or meet with small steps forward, Marty will chalk tiny wins up as big victories for an energized bunch striving to lay the foundation for future prosperity.
“The little victories like making it a close set when they are the heavy underdogs is the goal,” Marty said. “With each win they get, each deuce they get to, those are the victories for me. And staying calm and collected. Not getting frustrated, not giving up. They’ve already proved they can do that to me.”
Loveland
Coach: Brian Lindsey (third season)
Last season: Did not qualify for state
Players to watch: Corbin Marler (So.), Boyd Killian (Sr.), Daniel Lange (Sr.), Sam Huhta (Jr.), Devin Hughes (Jr.)
Coach’s outlook: “We are an experienced, senior-laden team this year and should have our best season in quite a long time. Each position has a chance to succeed in our state tournament with several positions primed for a long run. It should be a memorable and fun season.”
Thompson Valley Eagles
Coach: Jay Klagge (15th season)
Last season: 15th at Class 4A state
Players to watch: Jake Tucker (Jr.), Collin Golberg (Sr.), EJ Dotson (So.), Tarik Viegut (Sr.), Kevin Leidig (Jr.), Jay Sheets (Sr.), Erik Briles (Sr.)
Coach’s outlook: “Even though we lost six seniors, including all three of our singles players, we have some good, young players to go with four strong seniors. And, we add to the mix some talented freshmen and a couple of newcomers. We should be able to win some matches and compete at regionals.”