Latest / Illinois Valley - Shaw Local / 2026 Times girls tennis preview: Ottawa, Streator both aim to build off winning seasons
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: 2026 times girls tennis preview ottawa streeter both aim to
- 0:09Speaker 1: build off winning seasons written by jt penalty this article
- 0:15Speaker 1: is being read by an automated voice brought to you
- 0:17Speaker 1: by everlit the 2026 ssa girls tennis season is here
- 0:23Speaker 1: and so is the times preview of the seasons ahead
- 0:26Speaker 1: for the streeter bulldogs and ottawa pirates ottawa pirates coach
- 0:29Speaker 1: Kevin Olesen, first season, last season, 13-0. Top returners, Gracie Polancic,
- 0:35Speaker 1: SR Reagan Davis, SR Savannah Fredrickson, Jr. Caitlin Tretnero, SR.
- 0:40Speaker 1: Top newcomers, Dixie Smick, Jr. Mady Oldzeski, Jr. Zoe Angelico, Jr.
- 0:45Speaker 1: Leah Norris, Jr. Alia Martin, Jr. Carson Moore, Jr. Worth noting.
- 0:50Speaker 1: After 22 years, Pirates girls tennis coach Steve Johnson stepped
- 0:54Speaker 1: down in the offseason, and former Ottawa boys soccer coach
- 0:57Speaker 1: Olesen steps in to take over the program. The OTHS
- 1:00Speaker 1: tennis program has a long history of success that has
- 1:03Speaker 1: been led by retired coach Steve Johnson, coach Tracy O'Fallon,
- 1:07Speaker 1: and many other tennis experts from our community, Olison said.
- 1:10Speaker 1: I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the coaching staff, current players,
- 1:15Speaker 1: and future Pirates. I am grateful for the opportunity to
- 1:18Speaker 1: join this incredible program and excited to see the team
- 1:21Speaker 1: progress and succeed. Success does seem to a strong possibility
- 1:27Speaker 1: again this fall, even though the Pirates graduated a strong
- 1:29Speaker 1: senior class. We have a lot of depth this year,
- 1:33Speaker 1: Oleson said. Our junior class is full of experienced players
- 1:36Speaker 1: who have spent the last year preparing for their opportunity
- 1:40Speaker 1: to contribute at the varsity level. Fredrickson and Davis project
- 1:44Speaker 1: to begin the season handling the singles spots, with Polancic
- 1:48Speaker 1: and Trentonero leading an open competition for double spots in
- 1:51Speaker 1: the varsity lineup. Right now, we have about 10 players
- 1:55Speaker 1: who are competing for the sixth double spot, Soleson said.
- 1:58Speaker 1: The players are focused and working to prove themselves every
- 2:01Speaker 1: time they step on the court. Streeter Bulldogs, Coach Churambula,
- 2:06Speaker 1: second season, last season, 9-7. Top returners, Isabel Mahan, SR
- 2:10Speaker 1: Adria Rambula, SR Adelaide Mahan, SR Remy Coley, junior top newcomers,
- 2:14Speaker 1: Harmony Morgan, so Violet Hernandez, SR. Worth noting, the Bulldogs
- 2:18Speaker 1: enjoyed a winning season last fall and are hopeful they
- 2:21Speaker 1: can do it again this year, led by their four returners,
- 2:23Speaker 1: Manning's the single spots, fourth-year varsity player Arambola at number one,
- 2:28Speaker 1: Coley at number two, and the top doubles spot, the
- 2:32Speaker 1: Mahon twins at number one, Adelaide also a fourth-year varsity player,
- 2:36Speaker 1: in the daily lineup. The seniors on the team are
- 2:39Speaker 1: our biggest strength, Chuy Arambola said. Audrey Arambula and Adelaide
- 2:44Speaker 1: Mahan have played varsity since freshman year. Isabel Mahan played
- 2:48Speaker 1: some strong varsity matches last season. I have high expectations
- 2:53Speaker 1: for these three young ladies to set the tone for
- 2:54Speaker 1: the season and lead the team. Finishing above. 500 is
- 2:59Speaker 1: always a main goal, and definitely trying to get double-digit
- 3:02Speaker 1: victories is a big goal with some of the tough
- 3:05Speaker 1: competition we see. Increased aggressiveness at the net and all-around
- 3:09Speaker 1: less passive play is another goal of the team. With
- 3:13Speaker 1: proven experience at the top, the key to straighter season
- 3:16Speaker 1: in terms of team wins and losses could be how
- 3:19Speaker 1: quickly newcomers can adjust to the varsity game and contribute
- 3:23Speaker 1: competitive matches and swing the meat victories.