SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint Tennis ready to rack(et) up wins, finish among top in state

Last season: GIRLS — 4A (now 5A) District 1-2 Champions; 4A State Champions. BOYS —  4A (now 5A) District 1-2 Champions; 8th at 4A State Championship.

Coaches: Kent Anderson, head coach, 17th year; Patty Aunan, assistant coach; Geoff Klein (04'), assistant coach; Roger Alexander, assistant coach; Kent Stadum, assistant coach.

Key returners: GIRLS — Pepper Rickert, so.; Aubrey Knowles, sr.; Bella Bailey, sr. BOYS — Jacob Dawson, sr.; Ethan Ballard, jr.; Nathan Duke, jr.

Key newcomers: GIRLS — Amelia Poulson, fr. BOYS — None.

Key losses: GIRLS — Sydney Webb (doubles); Neva Reseska (singles); Berkeley Cox (mixed doubles). BOYS  — Matthew Norton (singles); Noah Spinney (mixed doubles).

Outlook: Under 2024 Idaho State Coaches Association Coach of the Year and now 17th-year head coach Kent Anderson, the Lady Bulldogs brought home the first-ever state championship tennis trophy to Sandpoint High a year ago. With both the boys and girls returning a good majority of their top players, Anderson thinks both teams are primed for top finishes this season.

"We've got a lot of new players; we've graduated a lot, especially on the girls side," coach Anderson said. "During our scrimmage, some of our kids were playing against another school (Coeur d'Alene) for the first time ever and you could tell they felt the pressure and played a bit differently than they have at practice, but we're working on things."

As for practice, the James E. Russell Center has provided an opportunity for Sandpoint to be able to hone their skills at a state-of-the-art facility that's similar to what the majority of the top high schools in the Boise area have.

"Today, we'd be in the gym with 45 kids basically getting nothing done," coach Anderson said. "The facility makes a huge difference. We have been able to do what we've done without any facilities... and now we have facilities equal to the top schools that we've been playing even with for quite some time. It's going to be a good year."

GIRLS

Sophomore and returning 4A State Singles Champion Pepper Rickert is hoping to not just repeat, but add-on to what was a record-breaking season last year. During her freshman campaign, she won every single match in straight sets, even at the state tournament.

"I'm really excited for this year; I feel like the team is really good — it's a really good environment," Rickert said. "I have been doing a lot of tournaments, training in the offseason and I feel good about my game right now. Overall, I have been playing a lot of point play to be better prepared for matches. There's going to be some tough matches this year, it's going to be a fun one."

Senior Aubrey Knowles returns after a runner-up finish in doubles at last year's 4A State Championship with former playing partner Sydney Webb. With Webb having now graduated, Knowles is still hoping to play doubles and has been testing out partners during the preseason. With a lingering knee injury, she's been resting, rehabbing and waiting patiently so that she could be on the court this year.

"I think I'll play with a handful of people to start the season to see what works the best. I want to have the best chance at winning state or at least making it to the championship again," Knowles said. "I'm just excited to play. Basketball season, I sat out the whole time, so I'm excited to be able participate again."

With seniors Lily Evans, Hannah Fisher and Bella Bailey returning to the lineup and freshman Amelia Poulson in a position to hold down a varsity spot, the potential for Sandpoint to repeat as state champions is very real.

"We're really depending on Bella to step up," coach Anderson said. "She's got a college-level serve. She has to get consistent with her ground strokes, but she hits hard — she's a powerhouse. She will be key for our girls as will Amelia. We're asking her to make a quantum leap. She's been playing for a long time and she's real solid."

BOYS

Two-time 4A District 1-2 Singles Champion Jacob Dawson will be on a mission this season. A senior, Dawson bowed out in the 4A State Consolation Semifinals a year ago, but this year, he has his eyes on the prize.

"This offseason I haven't been able to do much with being injured, but I have been getting back into things for the past few months, working on everything — forehands, backhands, serves," Dawson said. "I'm working on forming good habits during practice so when I'm stressed, under pressure in matches I can just focus in on those."

Juniors Ethan Ballard and Nathan Duke, last year's 4A District 1-2 Doubles Champions, are ready to shake off a two-and-out performance at last year's state championship and bring home some hardware this year — whether that be as a pair or in singles, depending on how the Bulldogs' lineup shapes up.

"I've been working a lot on my serve and developing some more consistency so that I'm more comfortable in game scenarios," Ballard said. 

"I've also been working on my serve and my volley a bit; I need to get that a lot stronger," Duke added.

With players like Fisher Dail and Brennan Johnson returning, a solid state run is imminent for the Bulldogs.

"I really think we are a top three team and I do think we have enough to win it all," coach Anderson said. "We will need some luck, like in every sport, but our boys are real tough. Everyone's better than they were last year and we have a lot of guys with state experience under their belts, so they know exactly what they're getting into."

Sandpoint Tennis Schedule

3/19 — vs. Coeur d’Alene, 3 p.m. 

3/20 — vs. Lakeland, 3 p.m. 

3/27 — vs. Moscow, 3 p.m. 

3/28-29 — @ Larry McConnell Tourney (Lewiston) 

4/8 — @ Post Falls, 3 p.m. 

4/11 — vs. Coeur d’Alene, 3 p.m. 

4/15 — @ Moscow, 3 p.m. 

4/16 — vs. Lewiston, 3 p.m. 

4/17 — @ Coeur d’Alene, 3 p.m. 

4/18-19 — @ Lewiston Elite Invite 

4/22 — @ Lake City, 3 p.m. 

4/25-26 — @ Inland Empire Tournament (Spokane) 

4/29 — @ Lewiston, 3 p.m. 

5/1 — @ Lakeland, 3 p.m. 

5/6 — vs. Coeur d’Alene, 3 p.m. 

5/8-10 — 5A IEL Regionals @ Travers Park 

5/16-17 — 5A State Championship (Boise) 

    Sandpoint High junior Ethan Ballard rips a forehand swing during a match last season against Lakeland.