Bad weather, no matches
Mustangs missing matches.
Mustangs battling elements, lack of matches
The inclement weather this spring has made it challenging for Mullen spring sports, arguably none more difficult than in girls tennis.
A team that sports 90 players, 55 on junior varsity, has been pressed by precipitation, cold and wind in addition to a lack of court space.
“We haven’t had a whole lot to watch,” Mustangs head coach Jera Sturgell said.
To date, the Class 4A Mustangs beat D’Evelyn and lost dual meets to 5A’s Ralston Valley and Cherry Creek. A majority of new players and in new slots of the team’s first 11 has made it an even more-interesting start to the season. The program’s Varsity II also downed Eaglecrest.
Plus, talented sophomore and No. 1 singles player Lauren Manwiller missed the recent Greeley West Invitational in which Mullen finished fourth as a team, although junior and No. 3 singles Megan Sandy finished first and senior and No. 2 singles Mikayla Phelps grabbed runner-up.
In the early duals, Sturgell said, players getting their first real taste of varsity competition “probably were a little nervous, but it’s something we’re going to have to work through.”
But there is good news – Tuesday’s match in the Centennial League vs. Cherokee trail at nearby Pinehurst Country Club is expected to played in temperatures close to 80 degrees.
As for the bad news – Wednesday’s match at regular 4A power Cheyenne Mountain probably is in trouble due to the expected storm and so is
Thursday’s league dual against Arapahoe to be played at Lifetime Fitness.
And the Mustangs’ late-season schedule is back-loaded, of course, as is the case for other programs.
“Cherokee Trail should be a good match for us,” Sturgell said. “I’m hoping these next matches can show where we are.
“All in all, the girls are doing great. They just haven’t had a whole lot of matches.”
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