Fall sports have taken full swing and so has the boys tennis season. The Central Boys Tennis team, under the mascot of the Warriors, is a combined team of Palisade High school athletes and Central High School athletes. Their first tournament was scheduled for August 15th and 16th at Vail Christian but was unfortunately canceled due to the poor air quality from the fires in Meeker. Jojo Kirschenmann, a Senior at Palisade High School has been on the boys tennis team for all four years of high school. Last year, he was ranked one doubles and is now on the trajectory to fill the shoes of the one or two singles spot. Being a Senior comes with conflicting emotions of excitement and stress. Kirschenmann says, “It feels weird to be a senior, but I feel prepared for it. I’m kind of ready for it to be my last year but I’m looking forward to one more season with my team.” Additionally, being a Senior also comes with a handful of different responsibilities such as becoming more of a leader. Kirschenmann explains, “I try to lead the lowerclassmen by giving them tips based on my knowledge of playing because I’ve played for so long. I want to help them out, set them up for future and upcoming seasons and just kind of get them on the right track.”
This year, there are many new players on the team, even some that have never played before. Despite the influx of new talent, many returning players have seen a lot of growth, creating a solid foundation for the team. Kirschenmann states, “The atmosphere is always fun, relaxed, and enjoyable. Whenever I go to tennis, I always know it’s going to be a fun day. I just love the game. This year, I just want everyone to grow and learn a lot and just fall in love with the game and feel like they can succeed.” This is head coach Jordyn Morrow’s second year coaching the boys tennis team and illustrates impressive passion and dedication to developing and improving the program. Kirschenmann says, “Our head coach is great. Our coaches in general are great. They know what they’re doing and they’re doing a good job.” On August 21st, the team will battle Steamboat Springs as their first match to showcase their talent. With a strong mix of experienced returners and eager newcomers, the Warriors are ready to continue building momentum this season.
