When you’ve won four consecutive conference titles like the Park Hill Girls Tennis team, the expectations only grow each year. With the program coach Tim Kalis has been able to fine tune over recent years, the 2010 season will be no different.
The Trojans return singles state runner-up Suzanne Barth, Kate Skorija, and Anna Karasiewicz from last year’s squad. While Park Hill’s top three were contributors to past successes, the fate of this year’s team could be largely determined by who rounds out rest of the squad. There are a pack of girls competing for the final three spots including upperclassmen Ashlei Bos, Sammy Young, and Bailey Petrillo along with freshmen Brooke Barnard, Kaylin Lake, Abby Peoples, and Beth Cooper.
The Trojans return singles state runner-up Suzanne Barth, Kate Skorija, and Anna Karasiewicz from last year’s squad. While Park Hill’s top three were contributors to past successes, the fate of this year’s team could be largely determined by who rounds out rest of the squad. There are a pack of girls competing for the final three spots including upperclassmen Ashlei Bos, Sammy Young, and Bailey Petrillo along with freshmen Brooke Barnard, Kaylin Lake, Abby Peoples, and Beth Cooper.
In what could be considered a rebuilding year, Kalis is excited about the position of the program. Having so many girls compete for spots right now will not only have an immediate effect, but is also positive in the long-term.
“It’s nice to see the girls getting those opportunities,” Kalis said of the competition. “We have a large group of freshmen girls of which four or five will definitely provide a boost for us in the future.”
With a 28-1 conference record in the past five years, the new conference arrangement will provide a challenge to the Trojans. Lee’s Summit West stands out as an experienced and talented team they’ll have their eyes on.
“This will be one of the more difficult conference years,” Kalis said. “If we focus on one meet at a time and
get better every day, we should be fine."
The Trojans will be tested early with a tough schedule featuring Liberty, Park Hill South, St. Theresa’s and Pembroke Hill. All four are scheduled in the first two weeks of the season.
“The nice thing about having some tough schools in our schedule is it will give us an idea of the work we need to do,” Kalis said. “It will be nice for our younger players to see the meat and potatoes of high school tennis and what it’s like to play some big guns right off the bat.”
Being battle tested is nothing new to the program, as they’ve faced stiff competition and defeated it before. Their coach sees promising signs so far.
“I’ve been so pleased with the work ethic so far that sky is the limit,” Kalis said. “I think we have great potential.”
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