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FORT THOMAS

Defending 10th Region champs Highlands tennis rebuilds

Adam Turer

FT. THOMAS – The defending 10th Region boys tennis champions have their work cut out for them this year. Only one of Highlands High School’s five 2013 state qualifiers returned. The pressure will be on sophomore Ben Emery to lead the team to a third-straight regional title.

Emery’s maturity and willingness to lead despite being an underclassman is critical to the Bluebirds’ success. After advancing to the round of 32 in the state singles tournament as a freshman, he is determined to improve this season. He has embraced his role and the challenge of leading his team to another championship.

“Having Ben back is huge for us,” head coach Collin Shadwell said. “He is such a diverse tennis player with so many weapons at his disposal, but what I like to see is how he is willing to help the players below him get better. He realizes that if the team is going to do well at the regional level, he needs to help them step up their games too.”

In addition to losing three seniors from last year’s state tournament team, the Bluebirds lost junior Parker Harris to year-round golf. One of the area’s best high school golfers was also a very good tennis player and he will be missed this season.

“Unfortunately for the tennis team, we lost Parker to golf,” said Shadwell. “He is an amazing athlete who decided to focus on golf year round, and I know he’ll do well.”

Junior Max Freyberger and senior Tylor Mitchell have teamed up for the first time and should be Highlands’ top doubles team. The duo will be peaking in time for the postseason.

“It has taken some time to get used to the nuances of playing with a partner, but I know they are capable of making a good run at regionals this year,” Shadwell said.

The Bluebirds won the team regional title and also had the 10th Region singles and doubles champs and the doubles runner-up last season. That raised the bar for this year’s squad. Even with just two of seven varsity players back from last year, the experience and success should carry over.

“Having any kind of postseason success certainly helps your confidence. Just getting a chance to see some of the top players in the region compete is an experience that can help an athlete new to the team,” Shadwell said.

“The expectations are certainly high. Losing five out of our seven varsity players makes it difficult, but that’s what makes this sport so interesting to coach. The ebb and flow every season, taking in new players and watching them grow into varsity starters is very exciting. I know that we’ll do our best, and in the end, that’s what really matters to me as a coach.”

A steady buildup to the tournament has worked the past two seasons. By tournament time, even the varsity newcomers should be playing like veterans. That’s what it will take for Highlands to continue its 10th Region dominance.

“We will need to peak at the right time, much like we did last year,” Shadwell said. “I really see the regular season as a warmup to the regional tournament. If you can build on your strengths and fix your flaws by the time you get there, then anything is possible. I’m really eager to see how my players step up when it really matters.”