2008 Outlook

Geneva’s tennis team certainly left little doubt in 2007 that it had the ability to compete with its new foes in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Golden Tornadoes finished the season with an overall record of 7-5, including a 5-3 record against PAC competition. The 7-5 record marked the first time Geneva had finished a season over the .500 mark since head coach Mandee Craft took over the program seven years ago. The good news was the solid improvement in the win column, the bad news for Craft and the Golden Tornadoes was the loss of four extremely productive players. Geneva will have to find a way to replace its top five players from the 2007 season. Gone are Katie Caldwell, Jill Halama, Allison Krisza, Tess Roholt and Beth Sweatman. That five-some combined for 32 singles victories and all 19 doubles victories from a year ago.

Waiting in the wings for an opportunity is returning senior Jill Grabski , along with junior Beth Ragonesi. Grabski proved to be the most productive returning player with a 5-4 singles record and a mark of 2-2 in doubles play. Ragonesi lost her only singles match of the season and finished the year with a 2-2 mark in doubles play. Needless to say, the 2008 season will provide several opportunities for some very large shoes to be filled. “Losing good players is something every coach is faced with year after year,” said head coach Mandee Craft. “Perhaps we are in a tougher situation having lost so much production from one year to the next, but I am still very confident in the players we have returning, along with some of the young women we will be welcoming to our program.”

Craft will undoubtedly be relying on some immediate contributions from some of those new faces on the Geneva squad. Included in the group of newcomers are sophomores Chelsea Cover, Amanda Rockhill and Kara Zimmerman. New to Geneva in 2008 will be freshmen Maura McLaughlin, Havilah Mohler and Amy Weller. “When 2/3 of your roster are new to the program there is always going to be some uncertainty,” said Craft. “All we can hope for is that some of these newcomers will be confident enough to step right into the fire and contribute.”

Geneva finished the 2007 season with victories in three of its final four matches, all of which were against PAC competition. Coach Craft has clearly made it a priority for her team to improve throughout the season and be at its best at the end of the year. “I don't think its any great philosophy to want your team to improve throughout the year,” said Craft. “We have always stressed hard work and commitment to the program and with that has generally brought positive results. I don't see why this year would be any different.”

The only difference on paper for the Golden Tornadoes tennis team is the absence of some of the most productive players in recent history. It will be up to Craft and to her young squad to put things together quickly as Geneva will once again face a very challenging non-conference and PAC schedule. “We certainly don't get any breaks with the schedule,” said Craft. “We are playing quality programs throughout the season which will also help us to improve to the level that we expect.”