Troy tennis eyes strong season with veteran leadership

With a core group of experienced players and renewed energy across the roster, the Troy High School tennis team is preparing for what head coach Ed Sedler believes could be a standout spring.

“I expect to have a great season this year, and I'm very excited to welcome Kristine Morris onboard as our assistant coach,” Sedler said. “We have a tight-knit bunch of girls who have been together for several years now, and the competitive friendship they have forged together is awesome.”

While final roster numbers were still being determined ahead of the first official practice, Sedler anticipates solid participation on both sides.

“I'm expecting about 10 girls and between 3-6 boys,” he said.

The girls squad features a balanced mix of experience and youth, led by a strong senior class.

“The girls should be a pretty good mix of upperclassmen and younger students, with 4 seniors, one junior, and several freshmen,” Sedler said. “I think we even have sophomore joining, which would be great because last year we didn't have anyone from that class.”

On the boys side, Troy returns to competition after not fielding a team last season.

“The boys joining are all upperclassmen, and I'm excited to have a boys team after not having one,” Sedler said. “It will be a challenge for these older boys to jump in and immediately play varsity, but they are a strong bunch of athletes, and I expect them to progress quickly.”

Leadership will be a defining trait for the Trojans this spring, particularly among the senior girls.

“Our senior girls will provide outstanding leadership, and are sure to keep those new recruits on the boys side in line,” Sedler said. “They are all amazing young ladies who put the team first.”

At the top of the lineup, competition is expected to be fierce.

“Senior Shelby Cole is our reigning number one, but junior Jolene Foutch will be pushing her and battling for the top singles slot,” Sedler said. “I expect both of them to be in Missoula for state again this year.”

In doubles play, Troy will lean on a seasoned pairing.

“Seniors Brooke Place and Abby Kreutzer will be our number one doubles team, and I'm excited to see what they can accomplish together,” Sedler said.

Sedler emphasized that the team’s identity goes beyond wins and losses.

“This team's greatest strength is our commitment to hard work, sportsmanship, and camaraderie,” he said.

As for the competition, Sedler noted the ever-changing nature of Montana’s smaller-school tennis landscape.

“Montana B/C tennis is pretty fluid from year to year as participation levels vary and divisions rotate a bit, so it's difficult to tell what the competition will look like,” he said. “We can always count on the Superior girls team to provide a tough challenge.”