Girls Tennis: Marion Harding's Taryn Simmers headlines returnees
MARION — Marion Harding lost a bunch of players to graduation, but the girls tennis team returns the best player in Marion County.
Senior Taryn Simmers, who qualified for the uber-tough Division I district tournament in singles last year, will try to duplicate and exceed a terrific junior season for the Presidents. Once again, she will hold down the first singles spot where she was the runner-up at the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference tournament.
"Good work ethic, positive attitudes, coachable, we will be strong at first singles," longtime girls tennis coach Blaine Pitts said of his team's strengths.
However, the Prexies lost to graduation Ryleigh Tillman in second singles, Anya Reynolds in third singles, Sofi Tinnerello and Karli Harris in first doubles and Kenzie Parrish in second doubles. Senior Jayde Pineda joins Simmers as the only letter winners returning to the roster. Collectively, that crew went 17-4 overall and 10-2 in the MOAC last year.
"Inexperience. I have a lot of first-year varsity players," Pitts said of his concerns.
Expected to play varsity will be juniors' Sierra and Autumn Silverio, sophomores' Raina Smith and Audrey Feasel and freshman Sophie Beechum.
According to Pitts, who is 276-244 in his 28 years at Harding and 451-296 in his 34 years of coaching overall, the Presidents want to be competitive in the league, win at least 14 matches overall and place at least two players on first-team MOAC.
He expects Shelby and Ontario to be the class of the conference.
"If we continue to improve, we hope to be in the mix," he said.
Unlike the Prexies, Pleasant is loaded with experienced players for coach Kirsten Jordan.
Junior Maura Murphy was second-team MOAC last year and will play first singles, while junior Katie Jordan was honorable mention and will play second singles. Junior Hannah Miller is also a two-time letter winner and will compete at third singles.
Playing doubles for the Spartans will be junior Lauren West, junior Anna Wenig, sophomore Anya Miller and sophomore Kylie Klaiber. All of them lettered last year.
"We have a solid group of athletes returning," Jordan said. "The majority have varsity experience and should contribute to the team in a positive manner. We had success last season, and I hope to have them build on that this year to really compete in the MOAC race."
And that's the goal, to perform better in the league this season.
"Our goal is to compete for the MOAC title and league honors," she said. "We also want to improve on what we started last year as a team."
Jordan feels Shelby and Harding are the strong teams in the MOAC, but with growth and continued experience, the Spartans could point themselves toward the top of the standings.
River Valley lost doubles players Megan Diven and Olivia Frazier and third singles player Kaylynn Meade, but the Vikings return senior Aliyah Baker in first singles, senior Gabby Cametti in second or third singles, senior Shayla Pappert to first doubles or singles and senior Macyn Danals in doubles. Addi Comstock and Rose Linnville could fill other varsity roles.
Longtime coach Sherry Jenkins said they had good summer workouts and that the four seniors have improved.
The expectations for the Vikings are to learn and grow with each practice and match.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Girls Tennis: Marion Harding's Taryn Simmers headlines returnees
