Being a first-year head tennis coach at Whitewater High School, A.J. Paul is not sure what to expect from his athletes this spring. He does know, though, that they have been a pleasure to coach so far this spring.
“Our guys have great attitudes. They work hard and push each other,” Paul said. “They do everything they are asked and they are motivated to improve in all areas of the game.”
Paul, who has been a recreational tennis player for about 10 years, since college, has coached girls basketball for two years at Jefferson. Paul is a guidance counselor at the school.
He is assisted by first-year coach Jacob Starkweather.
“(Jacob) has experience coaching youth tennis and will be coaching UW-Whitewater’s tennis camps this summer,” Paul noted. “He is also a former high school tennis player.”
Eighteen Whippet boys are out for the team. That includes three seniors, three juniors, seven sophomores and five freshmen.
Anchoring the team will be senior Ben Hanson and junior John Bresser.
“Josh Nash and Chamath Gunawardena, as sophomores, are leading the younger group and they will produce for us this year,” Paul added.
Paul sees the strengths of his squad as being player leadership, motivation and work ethic. The team’s weaknesses include the lack of experience, but also the lack of continuity from a program/coach perspective.
The Whippets’ next action is not until Monday, April 22, when Jefferson will come to Whitewater for a 4:30 p.m. match.
