Platte County junior Gavin Nichols is set to be the number one tennis player for the Pirates this spring as he is one of the four returners from last years squad, while being a 2-time state qualifier.
Platte County junior Gavin Nichols is set to be the number one tennis player for the Pirates this spring, with state experience.
Nichols is one of four returning starters, including Mason McBratney who subbed in at times last year and was the number one player on JV. Seniors Jack Forrest and Nathan Vanek played second and fourth for the Pirates last year.
“We have an excellent group of returning players, and we hope to challenge for the conference and district championship once again this season,” Platte County head tennis coach Zach Keith said. “I’m not exactly sure what the starting lineup will be, but it will include the five guys who played varsity last year in some capacity.”
Sophomore Jack Bralley is the fifth Pirate who will be a returner after playing fifth in his freshman campaign. Nichols has made it to state in each of the last two years as an individual and will be aiming to extend that streak to a third year.
“We have a nice mix of excellence at the top of the lineup with Gavin Nichols who is a returning 2-time state qualifier. We also have good depth with five of our top seven guys returning from last year,” Keith said.
The Pirates haven’t finished with a losing record in more than a decade and have been to two straight district championships, losing both to Grain Valley 5-4. Coach Keith told the Platte County Citizen that the Pirates will focus more on mental toughness this year than in the past.