Mount Vernon tennis leans on experience entering season

The Mount Vernon boys tennis team is hoping that varsity experience will lead to success this spring.

The Yellow Jackets return five players that played on the varsity squad a year ago — seniors Griffin Beach, Jackson Sigman and Elijah Weatherby, and sophomores Liam McCarty and Mason Tocheff. While they will be moving up and playing tougher competition this spring, MV coach Steve Tier is hoping that experience will help them along the way.

“We are fortunate that we have five returning that have had varsity experience,” Tier said. “Even though we have this strength, most of the varsity players will play in positions in which they have no experience. … I expect that those players with varsity experience will be able to draw upon that to play their best in tough situations.”

Tier is looking at Beach, Tocheff and McCarty as his singles’ players, while Sigman and Weatherby will move up to the No. 1 doubles’ team.

“I’m hoping that Mason, Griffin and Liam will become solid singles players, and that Jackson and Elijah will become a more successful doubles team because of their experience last year at second doubles,” Tier said.

He has a deep roster of newcomers vying for the final varsity spots. Seniors Sam Snyder, Ben Henricksen and Colton Smith all played junior varsity last spring, as did juniors James St. Jean, Archie Meyer, Nic Penchon-Elkins and Carter Sowul. Also in the mix will be senior Blayton Moore and freshman Dyson Moore.

The Jackets will have something extra to fight for this year as the Licking County League will officially recognize tennis as a league sport this spring. They will compete against Watkins Memorial, Granville and Zanesville in matches, then have an end-of-the-season conference tournament, which will also include Newark.

MV kicks off the season on April 6 at Big Walnut and hosts its first home match on April 7 against Zanesville. The Jackets will host its team invitational on Saturday, April 11, at both Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Ramser Tennis Courts and Memorial Park. Seven other schools will participate.