CHS 2002 Tennis Preview

The actual turnout came in at 10 girls for Bruins Coach Herman Doscher, who returns to head up a program that hasn't played a match since 1997.

That's because the White Salmon Valley School District dropped tennis after the '97 season (for a variety of reasons) in favor of adding fast-pitch softball.

But in order to comply with gender equity and participation requirements of federal law (Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972), the district had to add another girls sport to counter the debut of boys soccer in spring 2001.

So, tennis was brought back after a four-year hiatus.

"I'm glad the program is back," said Doscher, who coached his first CHS tennis team back in 1977. "Of course, I felt it never should have been canceled in the first place."

In any event, tennis is back for the 2002 season.

The Bruins will play 12 matches this spring in the Southwest Washington 2A League, which combines schools from the Trico and Evergreen leagues.

Doscher said the regular-season schedule, which concludes May 7, leaves room for making up postponed matches and the possibility of tacking on one or two non-leaguers prior to the start of district play in mid-May.

Columbia opens its season on March 19 with a home match against Castle Rock.

Doscher said he hopes to stage challenge matches among CHS's 10 players to determine the varsity lineup of three singles players and two doubles teams for the season opener.

He added that the three girls not selected to play varsity matches will play jayvee matches with the opportunity to challenge up as their games improve.

The team comprises senior Allison Matosich, juniors Brittany Kowach and Adrienne Woosley; sophomores Sarah Court, Constance Henderson, Jennifer Mayer, Martha Ohlson, Emily Swick and Leah Wadman, and freshman Desirae Lexa.

"We have 10 spirited girls with a lot of energy and enthusiasm but not a lot of experience," Doscher noted.

"So we've been working on fundamentals, rules, scoring, all the basic things they need to know to be in control of the games, because, unlike other sports, there's no coaching or officiating during the matches."

And, because the young Bruins are at the beginning of the learning curve, Doscher said they will struggle against more accomplished opponents in the early going.

"My expectations are that we're going to improve as the season wears on and have a lot of fun."