Tennis team rolls to 11-2 record

"With a winning season well in hand, the Falcon girls tennis team is getting ready to ramp up to district playoffs two weeks from now. "

“Gena Felton makes a return during the straight-sets doubles win she and partner Erika Huget-Towne chalked up against Arlington’s number three team.Matt Johnson / staff photoWith a winning season well in hand, the Falcon girls tennis team is getting ready to ramp up to district playoffs two weeks from now.In the past week and a half, a shuffled lineup of Falcons have gone 4-1 against Wesco 3A opponents, improving the team’s overall record to 11-2. Only Stanwood was able to tarnish the near-perfect streak when its tennis players routed the Falcons 6-1 Monday. In winning the meet, the Spartans avenged a 4-3 loss to the Falcons in March.Falcon coach Tom Kramer spent the past five meets moving players between doubles and singles play and mixing and matching some of his most experienced doubles teams. The team’s top player, Jenny Saephan, found success wherever she played, winning two singles matches and two doubles matches – with partner Kylie Bozym – in five outings. The shuffle benefited several players who have been moving between the varsity and junior varsity teams throughout the season. Freshman Jenny Newman moved up to Number 3 singles against Stanwood and grabbed the only Falcon win of the day in straight sets 7-6, 6-3. She moved up to the Number 1 slot Wednesday, then promptly earned her stripes by downing her Arlington opponent 6-3, 6-1. Also seeing some rare varsity action Kelsey Simmons and Jaci Gutzmer.Several other varsity players had a good week. The doubles pairing of Paige Jolley and Kaitlin King won two matches against Lake Stevens and Everett, while Svenja Koehn won three times in singles matches.Coach Kramer said his team should pick up at least one more win in its final three meets of the season. After those meets are over, he has to pare his team down to two doubles teams and two singles players for district playoffs, which begin in the second week in May. The Falcons play their last home meet on Monday against Jackson. “