The Capital City girls tennis team got to enjoy its new facility during the fall season. Now it's the boys' turn this spring.
The Capital City Cavaliers will host the Mexico Bulldogs for the program's first competition today after COVID-19 wiped out what was supposed to be their inaugural season last year.
"We've taken everything in stride," Capital City coach Roger Whittler said. "The players are eager, and maybe that's because of last year's cancellation. It made them double down in their commitment."
Capital City will share its tennis facility with the Jefferson City Jays this spring, before Jefferson City High School builds its on-campus tennis complex during the summer.
"It's great for the students, for the school, for the community," Whittler said.
Capital City has just seven players on its roster, meaning everyone will see plenty of varsity competition.
"We'll start of with the top six, but I'm sure during the year we'll have challenge matches, and they'll shift around at least one position," Whittler said.
Jonathan Dunville, one of three juniors on the team, will be the No. 1 singles player for the Cavaliers. Whittler said Dunville has been a good leader as the team's captain.
"He's got a great forehand and backhand," Whittler said. "He's really experienced - he has a father who is a professional tennis instructor - and he's had a lot of exposure."
Visshva Anto, another junior, is next in line at the No. 2 singles spot. Anto picked up the sport just a year ago.
"He has great skills, great speed, great recognition and anticipation, and great focus," Whittler said. "He's a great learner, very eager to learn."
Miles Andrews, the only sophomore on the roster, will be No. 3 in singles to start the season.
"He's a soccer player with good hand-eye coordination," Whittler said. "He's very disciplined, so we look forward to great things from him."
The remaining three singles spots are occupied by freshmen, starting with Xander Schmid at No. 4.
"Xander is a very, very dedicated player," Whittler said. "He had taken practice lessons before he got into high school. He's a really good athlete."
Trevor Vogt is next at No. 5, followed by David Ashcroft at No. 6.
"Trevor is our only left-hander, so it's good we have a chance to practice against a left-hander," Whittler said. "He's a good athlete, very smart.
"David first started playing tennis in our summer camp last summer. He's a wrestler, great athlete."
Christian Flowers, a junior, is the seventh player on the roster.
"Very dedicated, smart and eager," Whittler said. "He's the helper for everybody."
As for doubles, Whittler said he'll use his singles lineup to match up doubles pairings to state the season: Dunville with Anto, Andrews with Schmid and Vogt with Ashcroft.
"It fell into place like that, and there wasn't any reason to move it around," Whittler said.
The Waynesville Invitational on April 23 is the Cavaliers' only tournament in the regular season. The remaining 12 matchups are duals, including six against Central Missouri Activities Conference foes.
Leading into today's match, Whittler wants his players focused on more than just the game's fundamentals.
"I'm looking for everybody to play in a way that they don't overplay, that they learn to be patient and try not to win the match in one point," Whittler said. "I want them to focus on the mental game. Don't get mad at your mistakes, just accept them and stay in the match."