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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AuthorThese articles are written by coaches, players and parents of the tennis team. Archives
September 2022
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