Freshman ranked number one on girls’ varsity tennis team
A member of the girls’ tennis team volleys with a teammate during practice.
August 1, 2013
Tracy’s girls’ varsity tennis team had such an outstanding season last year, and they want repeat it for this upcoming season. The tennis team is coached by Paul Demsher and assisted by Patrick O’Brien. Coach Demsher has been coaching for 16 years and has been teaching at Tracy High School for 25 years.
This year, Demsher has said to have many new players added to his roster.
“We have several newcomers,” Demsher said, “some who have little experience, and one other who has a lot of experience as a freshman.”
The freshman is Melanie Markovic, who is currently ranked number one on the Tracy High tennis team.
“It’s good to be number one, but I don’t really think of myself as number one,” Markovic said.
Ranked number two is Camille McDaniel, a junior, who is a returning player.
“ It’s a lot less pressure than being number one,” McDaniel said, “I don’t even mind playing number one or number thirty. I’m just glad to be on the team having fun.”
McDaniel is very excited for this season and expects the season to be fantastic with her tennis girls.
“I expected to have a great season,” McDaniel said, “Our team has a lot of chemistry, so definitely we will have a lot of fun this year without and problems.”
“Our biggest competition every year is Lincoln and Lodi,” Demsher said. “Actually, I think Bear Creek will be fairly good this year from what their coach has said.”
The goals that the tennis team has are achievable and especially from their previous season last year they can for sure accomplish it.
“I think we’re going to have a good season, we just have to practice hard,” Markovic said.
“I would love to be league champions this year because last year we were league runner ups, and that was a little disappointing,” McDaniel said.
“Our main goal is for everyone out there to be better at their game of tennis, and to enjoy playing, and, obviously, for everyone to be successful in their tennis matches,” Demsher said.
“We were pretty successful,” Demsher said. “Our team had reached their potential, so I would say just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Tracy High School did not only get a new football stadium, but they also got new tennis courts that please Coach Demsher.
“Well, I like the fence, but I really wished they did something with the surface,” Demsher said, “the landscaping and the fence is beautiful.”
The tennis team’s first tennis match is at Granada High School against Granada on Sept. 3, at 3:30 p.m. Their first game at home is against Sierra High School on Sept 11, at 3:30 p.m.
