CHHS tennis gears up for remainder of schedule

Published 10:34 pm Wednesday, March 24, 2010

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks in Charles Henderson athletics. The soccer team is playoff-bound and the baseball team is ranked No. 3 in the state.

However, the Trojan tennis team is also enjoying some success this season, as the boys’ team is currently 3-0 in area play.

“Our guys are pretty strong this year,” said head coach Robert Lewis. “They’re undefeated in area play and they’ve lost to Dothan twice, but Dothan’s a pretty strong tennis school.”

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The Trojans have defeated Carroll, Eufaula and Valley in area play, and looked poised to qualify for state for the second straight season.

“I basically have the same group of guys that I went to state with a year ago,” Lewis said. “They were a bunch of eighth graders and a sophomore then, and now I’ve got a bunch of freshmen and a junior, so we’re still pretty young.”

The returning players from last year’s squad were joined this season by one major addition, however.

Seventh grader Patrick Jackson is on the varsity team, and has worked his way up to the No. 2 spot.

Jackson was not the only addition, however, as his father, Kevin Jackson has come on to help coach the team.

“His dad, Kevin Jackson, is helping us out some, and he’s been a great help,” Lewis said. “He played USTA some years ago, and was ranked at one point, so he knows tennis.”

The elder Jackson’s coaching acumen has been an asset to Lewis and the rest of the Trojans, especially for the girls’ team.

The girls are currently 1-4 overall and 1-3 in area play, but Lewis said improvement has happened, thanks in large part to Jackson.

“Kevin has really been a big help with our girls since the start of the season,” Lewis said.

“He’s been helping them with their footwork a lot, and that’s helped us to show some improvement, especially from our lower seeds. They’re working hard.”

CHHS will play again today at Carroll, and will have a chance to qualify for state at the sectional tournament April 19-21.