Led by strong singles play, Streator High tennis ready to get going

While there are a number of unknowns — chief among them one-third of the roster just now joining the team due to other sport commitments during this COVID-scrunched sports calendar — the Streator Bulldogs boys tennis team and head coach John Sandoval are happy to be back on the school’s striking blue courts and looking to build toward something special this season.

“I am blessed to have such great help [from assistant coaches Rob Beck and Michael Martin as well as a few former players], and we guarantee these kids will make great strides throughout this season,” said Sandoval. “We have a great nucleus of young kids that wants to learn how to play to help promote the next generation of SHS tennis.”

The Bulldogs are scheduled to open the season Monday with a 4 p.m. home match against Coal City.

When the opening-day lineup card is filled out, one of those players just returning to the team will lead them, as junior Davey Rashid — a standout this past month and a half for the Bulldogs boys soccer program and a strong singles player on the courts his freshman campaign — will take over the No. 1 spot from his graduated brother and two-time state qualifier, Greg Rashid.

Right behind him is another returnee from the 2019 team, senior Nathan Beck, who will play No. 2 singles. Sandoval expects the two, along with senior two-time varsity letterwinner Max Baker — also a soccer standout just now rejoining the tennis team — partnering up with up-from-the-JV-team Cooper Wahl, a junior, at No. 1 doubles to lead the way.

“Since we are very inexperienced in most of our doubles, we are looking to just get some team wins this year,” Sandoval said. “Individually, Davey should be a strong singles player with goals to be a state qualifier. Beck should get a lot of wins at No. 2 singles.

“I think our No. 1 doubles team should get some wins this year as well. Max has played doubles his whole high school career, and Cooper is friends with Davey, so they get out and hit a lot on their own. I think that Max and Cooper will continue to get better once they start getting some playing time.”

Varsity and/or program newcomers fill most of the rest of the roster.

Senior Tyler Mast also joins varsity after a successful 2019 playing at the JV level. Freshmen Brenden Christensen, Quinn Baker, Lucas Fraga, Izak Galik and Jack Sorensen along with sophomores Jimmy Sokol and Murphy Wilkinson join the varsity Bulldogs — Mast and Christensen a potential No. 2 doubles team , with Quinn Baker looking for a partner out of the other newcomers to fill the No. 3 spot.

“We have 12 total kids out this season,” Sandoval said, “but some of our upper class should win a lot of their matches.”

Sandoval is excited for the court time and potential wins his team can get this year, but also eying a bright future with all but two players able to return in 2022 and some intriguing talent with court experience on its way in the next couple years.