LAST YEAR: The Rockets were 8-6-2 in dual matches last spring while competing in the very tough O-K Green conference, against teams mostly from outside Muskegon County. They did very well against more local competition, however. R-P finished in second place at the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament (popularly known as the city meet), behind Mona Shores. Three Rockets won flight championships at the tournament – Hope Latsch (No. 2 singles), Kaitlyn Durow and Ava Dietz (No. 3 doubles) and Makayla Smith and Jayla Brink (No. 4 doubles).
TOP THREE SINGLES PLAYERS BACK: The exciting news is that all of the GMAA champions mentioned above, and a lot of other talented players, are back in the lineup this spring, meaning the Rockets should be a top team within the county and competitive against just about any team on their schedule. It starts with the return of the top three singles players from last year – seniors and fourth-year varsity players Olivia Smith (No. 1 singles, All-Conference selection), Latsch (No. 2 singles) and Molly Matz (No. 3 singles who finished second at that spot at the GMAA tournament last year).
Olivia Smith has continued to battle and improve despite health and injury issues and “is the perfect representative at the top of our lineup,” according to R-P head coach Ryan Hankinson. Latsch is “one of the most determined players I have been blessed to coach. Her effort and energy in matches is elite and she has zero quit,” Hankinson said. Matz “would be No. 1 singles or No. 2 singles for nearly every other team in the area,” the coach said. Durow, a junior and a GMAA doubles champion, will start the season at No. 4 singles. This will be her last year of varsity tennis, because she plans to graduate a year early and begin college at Michigan Tech.
GMAA No. 2 singles champion Hope Latsch.
GOOD DOUBLES DEPTH: Makayla Smith, a senior, and Dietz and Brink, both juniors, are the other three GMAA doubles champions who will return to anchor the doubles lineup.
Makayla Smith “is our doubles specialist that every doubles player wants to be partners with,” Hankinson said. Dietz and Brink are “two other talented doubles players who should help give us an advantage in the middle flights,” the coach said.
VERY PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Sophomores Kayleigh Brown and Lauren Slater (No. 1 doubles team to start the season), and fellow sophomores Elisa Howard (No. 2 doubles) and Elle Woodrum (No. 4 doubles) will add a lot of strength to the doubles lineup. “This quartet is the greatest addition of JV players RP has ever had while I have been coaching,” Hankinson said.
Juniors Brylee Gifford (No. 3 doubles) and Grace Cosens (No. 4 doubles) will also add depth to the roster, and Cosens could spend some time at No. 4 singles. Sophomore Leah Shaver and freshmen Annalise Griffin and Maci Morse will work to break into the varsity lineup.
GMAA doubles champions Makayla Smith, Ava Dietz, Kaitlyn Durow, Jayla Brink.
GOOD ROSTER BALANCE: The Rockets have strong participation numbers, and will have a very balanced roster, with four seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.
FIRST COMPETITION: Saturday in a multiple-team indoor event at Hope College in Holland.
COACH QUOTE: “Our goals remain the same - we want to have fun daily, compete hard, and grow and challenge for the county championship as the year plays out.” – Ryan Hankinson