Jimtown High School

Jimtown tennis players anxious to hit the courts By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter ELKHART - Things are looking up for the girls tennis squad at Jimtown High School, according to second-year head coach Eric Firstenberger. “Thirty-one girls have come out for tennis,” he reported. “We’ve got such a diverse range of ability, yet they’re still corroborating as a team. They’re putting their teammates first, and care for each other.” The Jimmies lost their top two players from last season when they finished with a 5-14 record, including 3-2 in the Indiana Northern State Conference. They are Natalie Butler, who was in the No. 1 slot a year ago, and Lucy Rosentreter, who was No. 2. Jimtown’s Clara Jackson actually took the conference championship in No. 3 singles last year. Jackson, a sophomore, most likely will move up to #1 singles for the current season, Firstenberger said, and another soph, Nadia Urban, may take the #2 spot (she played with the #1 doubles last season). Others vying for the top seeds are junior Amalyah Brothers (#1 doubles last year), seniors Zoe Kinnison, Kenzie Middleton (who already has committed to play tennis at Indiana Wesleyan), and Laney Dover; junior Aleda Doering; sophs Thea Hutsell and Lennyn Higgins and freshman Jada Powell. “I’m proud of the way the girls have bought into the program,” Firstenberger said. “They’re pushing to be the best they can be.” It’s been a bit difficult for the team to get outside for practice, he said, but they’re all looking forward to their first match against visiting New Prairie on March 30th. Play starts at 5 pm. Assisting Firstenberger with coaching duties is Amanda Goeller. Schedule (matches start at 5 pm, unless noted otherwise) 3/30 New Prairie 4/14 at Mishawaka 4/15 at Northridge 4/18 Jimtown 4-way meet, 9 am 4/21 at Tippecanoe Valley (c) 4/23 LaVille (c) 4/28 at John Glenn (c) 4/29 at Elkhart 4/30 at Knox (c) 5/1 Concord 5/2 at LaPorte for JV invitational, 10 am 5/4 Edwardsburg 5/5 Bremen (c) 5/6 SB Riley 5/7 Mishawaka Marian , 4:30 pm 5/8 at Triton, 5:30 pm 5/13 SB Washington 5/18 Bethany Christian