Focused Lineup Returns For Fenton Tennis Team

Last season, the boys' tennis team was forced to work nine new players into its lineup. Although that resulted in some up and down play at the time, the experience should pay off this season as the team returns nearly everyone from last season's squad, which finished in fourth place in the Metro League.

"This season is almost like a second chance," said coach Michael Dumbrille, who enters his second season as varsity head coach. "We had new guys in a lot of spots last year, and this year they get a chance to come back and be more comfortable in the same positions they were in last season."

The team has opened the season impressively, posting wins against three Big Nine opponents -- Powers Catholic, Davison and Carman-Ainsworth. Singles players Kyle Jenkins, Mazzen Saab, Marish Kilaru and Mitch Campbell have all had good moments already this season, but Dumbrille has been especially impressed with the chemistry of doubles teams, which include Jake Foguth/Alex Gerber, David Congdon/Tyler Frey, Joe Foguth/Brendon Kruzan, Bailey Gauss/Neelesh Pedireddy and Ben Hooper/Kyle Walsh.

"I've really liked how are doubles teams have worked together," Dumbrille said. "With doubles, sometimes the chemistry is hard. You can have talented players who don't mesh together. But our guys are really clicking with their partners."

However, the Tigers didn't quite have enough to get past Holly as the Bronchos won 5-3 against Fenton Tuesday in a tight contest.

In the Metro League race this year, Holly and Brandon, two of the top programs in the Flint area, should once again be formidable. Dumbrille hopes the experienced lineup Fenton boasts helps close the gap with those teams.

"Holly has an amazing program, they will be tough again," he said. "And Brandon has a great singles lineup, so they should be solid this year too."

Although Dumbrille's goal for the team is always to make the state tournament, with all of the talent that is back this year, he'd like to see the team make a run at the league title as well.

"I would love it if the team could win the Metro," he said. "This team is capable of doing it, but it's not going to be easy."

For now, Dumbrille is trying to keep the team focused on improving each match and not looking too far ahead.

"Tennis is such a short season, that it's easy to look ahead sometimes, but that's the worst thing you can do," he said. "This team is very self-motivated and hard-working, everyone is buddies with each other. They just do what it takes to win."