The Park Hill South boys’ tennis team has a senior heavy roster, but also has such depth that it’s tough to decipher a lineup early on.
Park Hill South’s Timmy Tasler is one of four seniors who are returning starters.
With four seniors who started a season ago – Timmy Tasler, Ryan Kempton, Ryan Murray and Miles Bingham – Park Hill South also brings back junior Jack Arnold and sophomore Noah Patel. Freshman Henry Jacobs will also be competing among the talented upperclassmen.
“Overall, this is the deepest team we have had in a decade,” Park Hill South head tennis coach Ian Cunliff said. “We have 10 players that would be successful at the varsity level.”
The Panthers are looking to have healthy competition to set in a lineup. There can be some shifting due to the depth and Park Hill South will experiment throughout the season to find its best one.
“In the past, we have been top-heavy and would have one or two state level players and then athletic seasonal players filling out varsity. This year we may not have that superstar, but we have a dozen really good players,” Cunliff said.
The Panthers are coming off two straight .500 seasons after being back-to-back district champions in 2018 and 2019. Park Hill South finished 7-7-1 last year and 7-7 the year prior and will look to get past that hump and finish with a winning record when the loaded squad takes the court.