The boys’ tennis team is working with big changes to their lineup this season after losing a majority of their 2022 seniors. With an almost completely new varsity team and six new JV players, it is definitely a rebuilding year for the Bruins.

Josh Wilkinson and Ross Gillet are the only players to have played for varsity last year. The thirteen graduating seniors from 2022 had played under the coaching of Kyle Christianson for six years, and on varsity for the past three. Even Wilkinson and Gillet are facing changes as it’s their first time having to play both doubles and singles. “It’s like a completely new team,” Christianson said.

Consequently, their practice strategy has looked different this year than in previous seasons, with more focus on skill development and strategy than on drills. Christianson feels this has been going well and is pleased with the team’s performance. “With the inexperience we’ve had, we’re getting better and better every match and I’m excited to see how we compete at the end of the year.”

He hopes to have the team finish sixth or seventh in EDC and get to the EDC play-in, then move on to state. “Hopefully we will have an individual or doubles team make it to state,” he said. As far as his expectations for next year, it comes down to how hard the team works in the off season, according to Christianson. He thinks placing in the top four in EDC is within reach.

So far the Bruins have played seven matches and scored a win against Wahpeton 6-3. Go Bruins!