With warmer weather, comes the return of Eagle tennis. As the season is starting, the tennis teams are beginning their training on the courts. With a new coaching staff, they are preparing to serve up some serious wins. 

Etowah’s tennis teams expect to do well with their new coaches, Virginia Diederich for girls and Brian Pierson for boys. 

“It’s a fun time with my friends. I love meeting players from different schools and playing with different people every week,” Erin Whalen, sophomore, said. 

Physical education teacher Brian Pierson, who coached JV last year, took over as varsity coach when Billie Beecher decided to step down, so she could focus on her daughter’s final year playing tennis for Etowah. 

“Tennis is always good at Etowah, so expectations are always high…we’re very young this year, so we’ll go as far as our young players are able to mature,” Pierson said. 

Virginia Diederich is a special education teacher at Oak Grove; by afternoon practices, she’s dedicated to Etowah. However, there are some difficulties when coaching from another school.  

“There are many issues with not being at Etowah.  Sometimes, I need to give my players items, or I need to get them from them. When I coached swim, and I was at Etowah, my athletes used to store their equipment in my room or meet during the school day, and now we can’t do that.  Also, it is harder to get to know the players when I am not at the school,” Diederich said.  

There are many freshmen who played on JV last year as eighth graders. As they return for a second year, they now have the option to make the varsity team.  

 “Playing for JV prepared me for varsity because I kind of knew what to expect during tryouts and how to prepare for it. However, I notice there was more competition to make the team because there were more players, and everyone had improved in some way,” Caroline Lund, freshman, said. 

Seniors Leighann Morgan and Braedon Mongold are the captains of the varsity girls’ and varsity boys’ teams. 

“We have a very strong team this season, and I am expecting us to make it to state again this year. I’m excited to see what this season brings,” Morgan said. 

Etowah’s varsity team opens its season Feb. 5 against Creekview; JV follows Feb. 11.