Experience is a plus in every sport, for sure. At the same time, the talent pool of top tennis players seems to get deeper and broader with every generation.

Ninth-graders and sophomores will be factors for each of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district’s tennis teams this fall, and at least one freshmen is likely to earn a starter’s spot somewhere among the top six singles or doubles players at each school.

That says something about the younger classes, especially since Carrboro, Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill all return a No. 1 player and several of their top six.

“It’s exciting to see so many young girls eager to compete,” said Carrboro coach Patti Fox. “We have a big group, any one of which could fit in anywhere among the top six. There really is a lot of talent in this town.”

Fox could be speaking for either of her counterparts.

East Chapel Hill, with two varsity matches under its belt before this weekend started and ranked No. 2 in the state behind defending champion Page, has a firmer lineup than Carrboro or CHHS. The Wildcats have most of their top players back from the young, 20-4 team that reached the 2007 N.C. 4-A dual-team championship finals.

“We graduated two of our top singles and one player (Tony Wei) in doubles,” coach Lindsey Linker pointed out. “We’ve got some very talented girls back, and we’ve got some talented freshmen, too.”

Jennifer Huang returns to the No. 1 court, this time in the role of team leader. Her sister, Megan Huang, steps up to the No. 2 singles. Veterans Tamara Hill and Tessa Johnson will be at No. 3 and 4, respectively.

Tegan Flynn, who drifted between sixth and seventh last year for East, is the likely No. 5 this season and leads the list of four players who will be in the mix for the last two singles spots.

Linker would like to find a way to work in any or all of four talented ninth-graders: Jamie Grinburg, Jasmine Sun and Maggie Booterbaugh. Booterbaugh’s sister, junior Hayley Booterbaugh, is better known for her softball abilities, but will figure into the team’s plans, as will Sydney Davis.

Davis and Jennifer Huang are the team’s lone seniors, and Linker said their ability to lead was as important as their on-court play. That’s saying a lot, because Huang was good enough last year to reach the NCHSAA doubles final with erstwhile doubles partner Tess Darling, now at UNC Asheville, and is good enough this year to hold a No. 12 ranking in the state’s USTA charts.

“On-court play” could be the operative phrase for this year’s team. Linker learned days before the start of classes that the ECH courts will be closed for two weeks in September for much-needed resurfacing.

“That’s just one thing in what I’m sure will be a season full of surprises.” she said.


Chapel Hill

Each of Chapel Hill’s top six starters are back from 2007, led by junior Tori Helpingstine and senior Michelle Prata. Coach Nick Walker said the two “always play pretty even” with each other, but Prata recently took over the top spot by virtue of a preseason challenge match.

Ninth-grader Hannah Kimbrough, younger sister of former CHHS and Guilford College standout Caleb Kimbrough, also worked her way into the Chapel Hill lineup at No. 3. Cory Nordwall was listed at No. 4, Caty Frasier No. 5 and former JV No. 1 Natalie Sutton at varsity No. 6 as the Tigers went on a playing junket this weekend to New Hanover and Pender Counties.

“These types of road trips are good for building team chemistry,” Walker said by phone during a stop for lunch. “The girls have all been working extremely hard, and it’s good to see them bonding.”

Ranked No. 10 in the state coaches’ poll, CHHS figures to contend again for a playoff spot. But Walker couldn’t say how the Tigers would fare in a region populated with No. 2 East Chapel Hill, No. 3 Broughton and No. 6 Athens Drive.

“We took a playoff spot last year for the first time in three years, and we will be trying for another this year,” Walker said. “We’re just getting started, and we’re going to take it one match at a time, one week at a time.”


Carrboro

Carrboro drew a single top-10 vote in the first N.C. coaches’ 2-A poll of the year, but that one vote of confidence says a lot about the young Jaguars. They’re not much older than last year’s team, which earned the honor of getting the new school’s first regular-season victory in any sport. But they’ll contend with top programs such as No. 1 Cardinal Gibbons, Durham School of the Arts and Cedar Ridge, all of which are in their Mid-State Conference.

The Jaguars comprise seven ninth-graders, five sophomores, one junior and two seniors. Lauren Flewelling, who worked her way into the No. 1 spot by the end of last season, ninth-grader Sam Green and last year’s No. 3 Lindsay Kornegay are the three Jaguars who’ve guaranteed themselves starting spots. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

“We’re still tweaking the lineup, and we’re still young,” coach Patti Fox said. “We got a large group of players who could be anywhere in the top six.”

Sophomores Jessica Malette, Alyssa Shuster and Kaylee Yoder are strong contenders for starting roles, as is returning senior Aleesa Lennon.

Fox will have to pencil in a lineup immediately. Carrboro opens play Monday at Graham, then hosts Cummings on Wednesday and goes to Orange on Thursday.

“We’d love to see some fans come out, especially for the home matches,” Fox said. “We’re building a good foundation here, and we ought to be a lot of fun to watch this year.”