Oxford tennis finally gets cranking
- Updated: March 25, 2015
UPDATED: Teams catch a break with the weather to get on the court
Oxford tennis coaches Hayley Loeken (L) and Kim Bolton. Loeken is in her first season with the Jackets’ boys; Bolton coaches the Jackets’ girls. (Photo by Brant Locklier)
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — Rain and cold weather have been the winners during the opening part of the boys and girls tennis seasons at Oxford High School.
New boys coach Haley Loeken has taken over the team in 2015 and had been fighting a number of battles.
One is youth as the team has seven eighth-graders, one seventh-grader and a lone sophomore, Thomas Roberts. Another is the weather that has cancelled matches and practices; plus, there are not very many teams nearby to play.
“There are not many boys teams out there like there used to be,” Loeken said. “We have only played two matches coming into Monday’s match with Chelsea as the weather has been so bad.”
She is an Oxford graduate who played tennis there, so she has come full circle with the program.
The boys lost 9-0 to Chelsea Monday winning only three games in singles.
The team is building slowly for the future, but playing against seniors and juniors makes it a tough learning and growing experience as they make improvements.
Oxford girls coach Kim Bolton has her girls team off to a 6-0 start.
Her daughter Danielle is playing at the No. 1 singles spot. Abbie White is at 2, Payton McGuirk at 3, Ashleigh Goodwin at 4, Brooke Boyles at 5 and Holly Hamlin at 6. Kaelyn Albright and Annabelle Traxl are alternates.
The Yellow Jackets’ girls took down Pinson Valley 9-0 Wednesday for their latest victory, dropping only one game all match.
The Jackets have won four of their last five matches 9-0.
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