Newton girls tennis resets roster with new expectations

Long-time Newton girls’ tennis coach Erick Zehr had a team last season that was going to be in the mix for a Little Hawkeye Conference title.

The Cardinals started the season with 60 players signed up to play and the upperclassmen were finally going to get the chance to play at their level.

The 2020 spring sports season was eventually canceled and with it went high expectations for the program.

Numbers are down this season, but Zehr welcomes back a handful of players with varsity experience. Figuring out the rest of the roster is not quite finished yet.

“Not having a season was honestly devastating. Any word you want to use to describe it won’t be harsh enough. It crushed our roster,” Zehr said. “We had girls who were playing up for a while and last year it was supposed to all come together for us. It was their time to shine and we lost the season.

“For our sport, 90 percent of the instruction comes within the season. True growth happens during the season. So we lost an entire year of growth, too.”

Zehr begins his 12th season as head coach. And Cassidy Bos will be his assistant coach.

On top of the seniors who graduated last year, the coaching staff also lost their No. 2 singles player from 2019 as Jamie Rogers moved to Kansas City.

That leaves the squad with six returners from last year. Senior Chassidy Henwood and junior Maggie Garrett are expected to be positioned at the top of the lineup, while seniors Katie McConnell, Megan Lovan and Molly Lovan and junior Kya Butler are expected to be on the 10-player varsity lineup.

The rest of the varsity roster is still being sorted out. Zehr expects freshman Lauryn Garrett to contribute right away. And freshmen Ella Swarts and Madison Rinehart are in the mix for varsity spots, too. Junior Alyssa Shannon is a newcomer who could crack the varsity lineup and Mae Van Dam, Jerica Dafflitto and Kaylanna Seu are all seniors who could contribute at the varsity level at some point this spring.

This year’s roster has 29 players, which is the smallest in Zehr’s tenure. There is just one sophomore on the squad.

“We are normally in the mid 40s. Losing last year definitely played into the numbers this year,” Zehr said. “Practice has gone great. We are small in numbers, but the ones we have out have interest and commitment.

“We do not championship expectations this season. We always have aspirations, but realistically it’s a rebuilding year. And maybe even more of a restructuring year. We need an injection of talent, athleticism and interest.”

Zehr said two strengths of this year’s team are leadership and athleticism within the younger players. Depth is something the Cardinals will have to overcome.

The development process also has been slowed a bit by rainy weather and spring break.

“A few of the freshmen are really helping us rebuild,” Zehr said. “We have some girls at the top who can really play. But you have to be 10 deep. It’s going to come down to a numbers game. We don’t have the experience at the varsity level yet.

“The bright spot is, when you have youth and potential, it’s only a matter of time. Can we get them developed and ready to go in time for the meets or are we going to lose because of lack of experience? We’ll see which one wins out.”

Newton 2021

Varsity Girls Tennis Schedule

April 1 — Des Moines East, 4:15 p.m.

April 5 — Boone, 4:15 p.m.

April 9 — Marshalltown, 4:15 p.m.

April 13 — Pella Christian, 4:15 p.m.

April 20 — Indianola, 4:15 p.m.

April 22 — Norwalk, 4:15 p.m.

April 23 — Knoxville, 4 p.m.

April 27 — Oskaloosa, 4:15 p.m.

April 29 — Grinnell, 4:15 p.m.

May 3 — Saydel (North Polk), 4:15 p.m.

May 4 — Pella, 4:15 p.m.

May 10 — LHC meet at Norwalk, 9 a.m.

May 15 — Regionals, 9 a.m., TBA

Home matches in bold