BY JIM THOMAS

Anytime a high school team has nine players graduate, there is going to be some rebuilding. This will be one of those seasons for the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls tennis team this spring.

"We graduated nine good players off last year’s team," head coach Ricky Carver commented. "That’s a lot of players to lose in the sport of tennis as well as for any team for that matter."

The only returning varsity player is senior Chelsea Amos. Jana Andrews was another returning letterman but she decided to graduate early.

"We have good returning JV girls who will see a lot of varsity play quickly," Carver noted.

Chere Todd, Amy Woosley, Melinda Lee, Sarah Wallace, Cassandra Wood, and Chesleigh Keene all played with the junior varsity a year ago.

"We have a lot of newcomers. They are very athletic and quick learners. They are focusing in practice and learning quickly," he added.

Another newcomer is assistant Randy Carver, Ricky’s twin brother.

Head coach Carver said the youngsters are becoming dedicated and purchasing rackets.

Some of the newcomers are Colette Hall, Jacqueline Hart, Lindsay Johnson, Tracy Berhost, Emily Harclerode, Jennifer Stone, Wendy Decker, Brittany Neeley, Amanda Frazier, and Aimee Dehart. Actually Frazier and Harclerode played two seasons ago but took last year off.

"We are going to have to start all over again. But starting all over again is a good thing, too, because we are getting more and more people involved in the program. So, it will be an interesting year," he commented.

The season gets under way by hosting Grand Junction High and Fruita-Monument March 17-18, respectively, at the recently refurbished (new playing surface) Centennial Park Tennis Courts. The new courts at Parque de Vida are still under construction and will not be ready until this summer.

They continue to stay at home by hosting Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.) March 25. The Western Slope Open is set April 7-8 in Grand Junction. There is a possibility another tournament may be scheduled as they have an opening.

The Panthers open Southwest League matches by visiting rival Durango April 13 and then play another nonconference match against Piedra Vista in Farmington. The Demons come to Cortez April 20 and Montrose follows on April 22. They travel to Central of Grand Junction on April 28 and Montrose and Aspen in Montrose April 29. Regionals and State follow the next two weekends. Montrose should be the favorites to win the team title.