The goal for the Pioneer tennis team at the start of each year is to find a way to medal at State. Last year the team entered state with one of the top teams in Class B so it was a foregone conclusion the Pioneers would earn some hardware. In fact 4 of the 6 Pioneers brought home medals. This year was the story of those two young men who were denied last year. After missing the medal round by the skin of their teeth in 2020 Caleb Poggemeyer (12) and Connor Causgrove (11) set their minds to getting over that hump in 2021. Both boys started that journey in the winter of 2021 when they began taking lessons every Sunday at Woods Tennis Center. Gradually they sharpened their swings and both boys grew nearly four inches over the winter and into the summer. These two started the year in the #1 doubles spot and put together a great season going 19-6 and earning the #8 seed for the State tournament. At State they began their run by defeating the Brownell-Talbot team 6-1, 6-3. While it was a decisive victory the duo played a little tight and had some struggles from the service line. Coach McNeely commented, “It was obvious they were nervous. They put alot of pressure on themselves going into this week.” Next up was the #9 team of Hunter Ness and Jaxson Karn from Holdgrege. Once again Poggemeyer and Causgrove were playing tight except this time their struggles cost them the first set 3-6 and they were trailing 2-3 in the 2nd set when Coach McNeely pulled the boys aside for a word. Poggemeyer commented, “Coach McNeely just told to have fun, enjoy the great crowd, and make a memory.” After this brief conversation, the two started making one great play after another forcing Holdredge into mistakes. They ended up winning the set 6-4 and built momentum into the 3rd set tiebreak. After overcoming and tying the match at one set all, the two teams continued to battle in a back and forth tie break where neither team led by more than one point until the very end. The Pioneers put it away by breaking the Duster’s serve at 7-8 and then rolled off the next 3 points to win the set 10-8. The win cemented them into the medal round. Their goal had been met and the hard work proved worth it.
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The Pioneer tennis team ended their season last night with a 5-4 win at Lincoln Christian. This ends a successful regular seson for the Pioneers with 6-3 record in duals and a team that is tournament tested and ready for the State Tournament in Lincoln next Thursday and Friday. Coach McNeely commented “I had high expectations for this team but I think with some of the adversities with illness and injuries that we have gone through I believe we actually might be better off than I could have hoped.” The win against Lincoln Christian tops off a fast and furious 7 days where both doubles teams placed 2nd at Beatrice Invite on Friday, the team won the Trailblazers Conference Tournament on Monday and then defeated a strong Brownell-Talbot team on Tuesday. Throughout this run the Pioneers were led by their four horseman Caleb Poggemeyer (12), Connor Causgrove (11), Eli McNeely (12) and Anthony Robinson (11) who have really been grooving in doubles. The combination of Poggemeyer and Causgrove will go into State with a record of 19-5 while the duo of McNeely and Robinson have built a record of 11-3 since deciding to focus on doubles in the middle portion of the season. Both teams have an excellent chance of earning a high seed at state and with good luck and good play have a chance to make some noise in their respective divisions. Participating at State for the Pioneers will be: #1 Singles - Keno Schuldt #2 Singles - Braydon Thornton #1 Doubles - Caleb Poggemeyer & Connor Causgrove #2 Doubles - Anthony Robinson & Eli McNeely |
AuthorThese articles are written by coaches, players and parents of the tennis team. Archives
September 2022
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