Columbia High is typically in the Trico 1A league for sports but for tennis they mostly play teams in the Evergreen 1A league. This means the girls must travel far to get to most of their matches. The closest opponent is Stevenson High School (who are also in the Trico league).
The Bruins have a really strong team this year and a new coach, Ashleigh Coyner. They have returning fourth-year players, seniors Juliet Perez as the No. 1 singles player, Claire Hayes as No. 2 singles, Audrey Coyner and Josephine Beck as No. 1 doubles and Lynette Black as part of the No. 2 doubles teams. The rest of varsity consists of Athziri Cortes, junior, as the other pair of No. 2 doubles team and Natalie Cox, sophomore, as the No. 3 singles.
They currently have a total of 20 athletes with one (possibly two managers) on this all-girl team. The Bruins have lots of new players as well as some returning players. Although they have quite a few seniors this season, eight total, they should have plenty of new players next season as it seems the tennis bug has caught on and there is lots of interest in playing high school tennis.
Season highlights/stats
The Bruins have had only four league matches as of press deadline, having played Tenino with a 5-0 win, Stevenson with a 1-4 loss, Hoquiam with a 5-0 win and Eatonville with a 3-2 win. Varsity are the only ones who score for the team, with a total of five points (three singles and two doubles team). Perez, the No. 1 singles player, is 3-1. Hayes, the No. 2 singles player, is 4-0. Coyner and Beck, the No. 1 doubles team is 3-1. Black and Cortes, the No. 2 doubles team is 2-1 (both having missed a match) and Cox, the No. 3 singles player, is 2-2.
They have a busy week of tennis with a match in Montesano on Monday and one at Castle Rock on Wednesday. Both of these matches will solidify their spot as No. 2 in the league if they win both matches. They are currently tied with Eatonville for that No. 2 spot.
They have a home match versus Tenino on Thursday, April 18. The team then heads to Hoquiam for the first time to play them for a second time on Saturday, April 20.
Arguably their biggest match will be at home on April 23 against Stevenson.
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