Eagles Tennis Capitalizes On Senior Night Celebration

by John Unrein

     Tennis rackets were raised by underclassmen creating a tunnel onto the tennis court as seniors were presented by their parents prior to the Eagles match versus Winnetonka on Monday, April 29th at Grain Valley High School. The Eagles would win 6-3 over the visiting Griffins on Senior Night. The win allowed for the team to improve to 5-8-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
     The Boys Eagles Tennis team has now compiled 4 wins in a row.
     “We have seniors in the top 4 singles spots and top 2 doubles teams. Their play is really solidifying our team right now,” Head Coach Randy Draper said.
     “We need to play really good doubles to start matches. If you win two of the three doubles matches it gives you an advantage mind set wise. I am really happy for a couple of seniors that have worked at this and are getting rewarded. Joel Florida was our number six last year and is playing number one this year. He has improved dramatically in the past year.”
     Other players contributions have caught Draper’s eye as well. “Bryson Martin is playing number 4 this year. He hadn’t been on the Varsity until this year and just kept working at it and is having a lot of success.”
     District play start the week of May 6th. The Eagles have been seeded 3rd in the six-team district tournament. Grain Valley will host Fort Osage in the 1st Round on Monday, May 6th at 4:00 pm.
 
 
 

Senior Trenton Tarrants (pictured) and Senior Joel Florida were one of the doubles teams who faced Winnetonka on Monday, April 29th. The Eagles won 6-3 over the visiting Griffins on Senior Night.         
Photo credit: Valley News staff