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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Tyler Bryan takes a shorthanded swing Wednesday, July 30, in a practice match. Bryan won a spot in the top three for the Steers tennis team with his performances during practices. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Jade Dospapas takes a swing at a ball during practice matches Wednesday, July 30. Dospapas is once again at the top of the Lady Blues lineup and looks to build on her successful season from the year prior. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Chris Reyes goes to return a serve in a practice match Wednesday, July 30, against Brodey Mills. Reyes earned a spot in the top two of the Steers tennis lineup based on his performances during practices.
The Graham Steers and Lady Blues officially turned the corner out of the summer and into the regular season this past week with the start of mandatory practices.
These were the first official practices that head coach Matt Birdwell was able to head up while trying to shape the roster in preparation for their first slate of official matches right around the corner.
These first official practices ran from Monday, July 28, through Thursday, July 31, with one main goal being established throughout competition.
Birdwell had each of the Steers and Lady Blues competing in singles and doubles matches over the course of the four days in order to determine who would be his top candidates to lead the team going into the season.
Overall, Birdwell believes he has filled his top three spots for singles competitions on the boys side.
“Most of the matches have pretty much gone the way I thought they would,” Birdwell said. “Right now it’s Brodey Mills, number two is Chris Reyes and third is Tyler Bryan.”
Birdwell said those three have been the consistent top performers so far in their one on one matches and each of them have fared differently playing each other.
Mills beat both Reyes and Bryan in their individual matches by scores of 8-1 and 8-5 respectively. Reyes then defeated Bryan in a close contest 9-8 to set the top end of the Steers roster.
On the Lady Blues side, things were a bit more unclear.
Jade Dospapas led the way at the top end of the women’s board, but after that there was uncertainty about positions below her.
Players like Olivia Buckley and Kline Krupp also had strong performances during initial practices meaning they could very well be at the top of the board as well.
However, someone who could slide in for the Lady Blues also is Stacy Gonzalez, according to Birdwell.
The head coach cited her as a strong player, but someone who was unable to participate in the first three days of practices.
Once Gonzalez is back on the court, Birdwell said he should have a better idea of where she will place on the team.
Birdwell gets the engines revved early for the tennis teams as they quickly turn around from the first practices to first official matches of the season in the same week.
The head coach said this is something that is done intentionally.
“Before school starts, you can play matches every single day,” Birdwell said. “Once school starts you can only play one match during the school week and then one match on the weekend. Every tennis team I know front loads it as much as they can to get a bunch of matches in quick so you’re used to playing the spot you got into.”
After opening the season against Mineral Wells and Krum on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2. The Steers and Lady Blues turn right back around for a match Monday, Aug. 4, against Decatur at 9 a.m.
