For the last several seasons, Union tennis coach Bryan Norman has fielded a young team on both the boys and girls side.
UNION TENNIS SCHEDULE
Now, those young players are older and more experienced, giving Norman plenty of optimism for the upcoming season.
“I think the strength of team will be the girls,” Norman said. “I think we have got a good group there. The last few years, we have had a lot of girls come out, and they are way more experienced coming into this season.”
Leading the way for the girls is senior Meaghan Graham who has been playing since the seventh grade. She is joined by a trio of juniors in Hailey McKinnion, Logan McGraw and Tyler Athis. Norman said he also looking to freshmen Destiny Edwards and Hailey Townsend to contribute along with Regan Sullivan and eighth grader Kinsley Johnson.
“I think the varsity girls have a chance to advance out of district and finish in the top two in district,” Norman said. “Last year, we had a really good day at district and had several teams go in as third or fourth, and they finished first or second. We just have to keep working and getting better.”
On the boys side, juniors Cross Franklin and Michael Hurley have both been playing since seventh grade while E.J. Campbell is expected to contribute after basketball season. Norman is also looking for Francelle Parija to return for his third season with the Yellowjackets. Norman also expects senior Seth Sessums to step up and play a bigger role this season after playing for his first time last year. Rounding out the group is eighth grader Jackson Johnson, who will be counted on to contribute.
“I think the boys are going to be competitive,” Norman said. “We don’t have a lot of options there, but the ones out there will be competitive. We had two teams make state last year, and that was an up year for us going in the right direction.”
Union will be in district play with Madison St. Joseph, Pisgah and Philadelphia.
“St. Joe is really good and Pisgah is a growing school,” Norman said. “Philly always has some good kids, and Coach Luke does a good job with them. It will be a very competitive district.”
