Coach Ron Miller is hoping that his Ankeny boys’ tennis players will be in better shape this season.
“We’ve incorporated a new fitness program this year,” Miller said. “It seems to be settling in with the players pretty well in week two (of practice). Our goal is to be a fitter team that doesn’t run out of gas at the critical year-end state qualifying matches as we may have done last year.”
Ankeny posted a 1-8 record in 2022, including a 1-5 mark in the CIML Iowa Conference. The Hawks are now members of the nine-team CIML Conference.
Ankeny will play at conference rival Waukee in its season opener on April 4.
“The practices have been great,” Miller said. “The weather has been tremendous, and that helps.”
Ankeny returns most of its varsity lineup from last season. Seniors Mason Lyons, Avin Legg, Aiden Walker and Ethan Bovee are back along with sophomore Dylan Victor and juniors Cale Josten, Colin Lueck and Drew Lueck.
Lyons was the team’s No. 1 player as a junior. He earned a No. 4 seed at last year’s district tournament.
Victor placed second in No. 2 singles at the Johnston Invitational. Walker and Josten teamed up for a runner-up finish at No. 3 doubles in the same tournament.
Legg and Bovee played doubles at the district meet and won a first-round match before losing in the quarterfinals.
“We have a good number of seniors on varsity this year,” Miller said. “It will be sad to see this group go, but we do have a big eighth grade group coming in next year!”
There are only three freshmen on this year’s roster. They are all beginners, Miller said.
However, some other players are expected to step up.
“Senior Abel Zaragoza and junior Kuennen Bodensteiner are moving up from JV and will play varsity this year,” Miller said.