Giordano encouraged by Wildcats’ improvement and competitiveness
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ALPENA -- Improvement and continuing to grow as a team have been key goals for the Alpena High girls varsity tennis team this season.
With many players lacking competitive match experience, getting better and better after every match is very important.
"The team has done a nice job competing in every match this year. We are pretty young when it comes to competitive match experience, but the ladies have done a nice job sticking to the plan of keeping the ball in play and making the other team make better shots to beat them," Alpena coach Charlie Giordano said.
Although the team lacks the experience, a couple of returning players have been huge for the program. Bekah Carlson and Alicia Carroll have the practice and understanding of how to compete at a very high level.
Carlson has done a great job so far this season at one singles while Carroll has also continued to perform well at two singles.
"We have co-captain seniors Bekah Carlson and Alicia Carroll returning and setting the tone for the team. They have both moved up in the lineup and have done a nice job representing the team," Giordano said.
One of the surprises for Alpena so far this season has been Audrey Decker.
Decker recently switched to singles and has held her own against formidable opponents.
"Audrey Decker has been playing singles this year after playing doubles last year. She has done a great job with the transition," Giordano said. " She is patient and even tempered on the court which is a great combination."
A couple of other breakout players for the Wildcats this season have been Gracie Tulgestka and Madison Tolan. Tulgestka and Tolan have been practicing all season long together and have built a great relationship on the tennis court. Through this relationship, the two have been able to compete all year long against the rest of the Big North Conference.
"Gracie Tulgestka and Madison Tolan have been competitive at two doubles this year which is a big move up from last year. They have great chemistry on the court which is what makes them successful," Giordano said.
Overall, the 2023 season has been a big developmental year for most of the team. While experienced players like Carslon and Carroll have been able to compete with the highest competition, preparing the rest of the players for the future has been fundamental for the next few years.
Gaining experience and practicing against exceptional players should prepare the newer players for upcoming seasons.
"They have all improved on their technique as well as their strategy. We will continue to work on making the right shots at the right time as well as knowing how to get out of trouble on the court," Giordano said. " They are a great group of ladies."