Season A '20: 'Stangs net worth up
It's another fall sport with cuts due to COVID-19, but Mullen boys tennis brings back experience and younger talent has improved. Team was 4A state runner-up in 2019.
(Second in a series of previews for Season A.)
Of course, Jacob Ohrman has an opinion and his is the following: “I think it is our year.”
The Mullen boys tennis head coach has seen his program rise gradually into a fourth season in command and opportunities abound in what may turn into a 2020 season undoubtedly containing some combination of joy, relief, conundrum and nonfulfillment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The following may be beneficial or detrimental for the sport, one of only four to be played this fall, now known as Season A:
--- The Mustangs return six players from their Class 4A runner-up team a year ago. And with the number of meets dropping from 2019, the Mustangs will only face 5A teams, all in the Centennial League. The season has been shortened by multiple weeks and there are eight meets scheduled (seven duals and a tournament) instead of a dozen.
--- There will be a similar postseason schedule in 2020, but playbacks have been eliminated. Also, the regional tournaments have been changed from two days to one and state tournament from three days to two.
--- Numbers and interest remain up for the Mustangs, although Ohrman said he and his staff are in a position due to COVID-19 in which they must make cuts. Hence, there will be 11 players on varsity (three singles and four doubles teams), 12 on Varsity II and 24 on junior varsity, a low total of 47. The bright spot there, Ohrman said, “is it will be nice for the coaches to be able to work more with each player, but there will be some heartache there, for sure (for those cut).”
No matter. Ohrman said most of his players have gotten better and the six returnees have real opportunities – seniors Luc Caldwell, Mac Caldwell, Dante Dino, George Henry Hanzel and Greg McMullan, and sophomore Jack Barker, a group that figured in four 4A runner-up spots in 2019.
The Mustangs will host a 4A regional on Oct. 15 against the likes of Conifer, Evergreen, Littleton and George Washington. The 4A state tournament will be Oct. 25-26 in Pueblo at its City Park.
As usual, perennial winner Cheyenne Mountain will be in the team chase, as will D’Evelyn, Kent Denver and Niwot, said Ogrman, whose team opens today, Aug. 15, against Arapahoe in league at Pinehurst Country Club, first serves at 9 a.m.
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