The Carl Junction girls tennis program features a pair of returning state qualifiers and a new head coach in 2022.
Junior Jenna Besperat and sophomore Naiyah Wurdeman are back in the lineup after ending the ’21 season at the Class 2 state tournament. Besperat advanced in doubles with the graduated Nicole Sherwood, while Wurdeman qualified in singles.
Also back with prior starting experience for the Bulldogs is junior Isabel Read.
Carl Junction, now under the direction of head coach Craig Fox, captured a district championship last fall.
“We’re hoping to build upon the success of last year,” Fox told SoMo Sports. “We’re young and have some depth so the varsity spots are going to be hard fought for. We’ll have four newcomers to the varsity squad. The team is very excited about the upcoming coming off a district championship.”
Other players competing for varsity spots include Alyssa Graves, Emily Rice, Emily Higgins, Karigan Leggett, Brooklin Leggett, Mary Parker, Aastha Ghandi, Trinity Sheward, Tallie Ayton and Avery Baine.
Several newcomers will be in big roles.
“We are young and don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” Fox said. “But those who have had some success are very hungry for more.”
Fox was asked his thoughts on the team’s keys to success.
“The key to our success will be staying healthy and continuing to push each other in practice to improve our skill level,” he said. “Overcoming our inexperience will take some time against a very good conference. It’s a very short season with a lot of matches, so we need to stay healthy and hopefully peak at the right time of year.”
The Bulldogs will begin the season against College Heights on Aug. 26.
“We are very much looking forward to what the season brings,” Fox said. “We’re hoping for continued success as we continue to build the girls tennis program at Carl Junction.”
