Coach Milo Rogers is working with new students in the spring rain, as they practise double handed hits. “Try it” he urges “it will feel awkward at first, but just try it.”

Coach for five years, Rogers is assisted by Nancy Prieve, who has been coaching the game for 16 years. Rogers says with a big smile that he hoans his teaching skills every year with “a lot of help from the internet.”

The students began their conditioning this year with some intensive shovelling to get the court’s clear of the extra snow load. Senior Molly Walters says “boy, did we shovel” and shows off a red blister on her palm.

Along with Walters, other senior tennis players this year are Noah Caballero, Kaylee Stecher and Allie Brown. Brown says “It’s hard to anticipate a tennis season, because tennis is such an individual sport.”

However, she also comments that Bigfork has “a really good girl”, and that she will be watching the Libby boys team to see if they can take State again.

As the students settle back into practicing kick serves, Stecher adds “I just hope we have a good year.”

The first tennis match this year will be on Saturday, April 1, a home game against Ronan. Libby will also play against Ronan.