LADY VIKING TENNIS LOOKS FOR ANOTHER STATE TITLE RUN

By Staff

LINDSBORG – Last fall the Smoky Valley girls tennis team completed two of three goals and the 2023 team will be looking to achieve all three.

In 2022 the Lady Vikings scored the Central Kansas League Championship as well as gaining the top spot in their state regionals before falling a bit short and finishing third at the state tournament.

Head coach Vince Warbinton begins his third season with assistance from Gary Butler and Thomas DeWitt as they look to replace three key graduates while returning three varsity players, including a pair of Lady Vikings that finished eleventh at the state tournament.

Needing to replace Lena Rauchholz, Karee Adam and Campbell Gaskill will be tough as they were the Lady Vikings top singles and doubles team, but coach Warbinton returns the other half of last season’s varsity in Kelsee Adam, Kayla Norberg, and Lily Heline.

Norberg and Heline played number two doubles in 2022 and gave the Lady Vikings an eleventh-place finish at the state meet.

The 2023 season will open with a trip to Hesston for an eight-team invitational on Thursday, August 24.

The Lady Viking coaches point out that they have five quality newcomers that could make a serious impact on the 2023 season in Jamie Bean, Mackenzie Heline, Jill Hett, KJ Leis and Madelyn Mauk.

According to coach Warbinton, “The Lady Vikings will look to replace our top singles and doubles team from last season. We have had great depth at our junior varsity level the past couple of seasons and our players are truly looking forward to the opportunity to continue the great tradition found with in the Smoky Valley tennis program.”

2023 LADY VIKING TENNIS SCHEDULE:

Thursday, August 24 = At Hesston Invitational (8 schools)

Tuesday, August 29 = At Ellsworth Invitational (8 schools)

Thursday, September 7 = Host Lady Viking Invitational (with Abilene, Central Plains, Chapman, Ellsworth, Hesston, Hillsboro, Hutchinson Trinity)

Saturday, September 9 = At Hesston (8 schools)

Thursday, September 14 = At Ellsworth Invitational (8 schools)

Tuesday, September 19 = At Hesston Invitational (9 schools)

Tuesday, September 26 = Host Lady Viking Invitational (with Buhler, Colby, Conway Springs, Marysville, Phillipsburg, Pratt, Salina Sacred Heart)

Friday, October 6 = At Class 3A Regionals TBA

Saturday, October 7 = AT Class 3A Regionals TBA

Friday, October 13 = At Class 3A State Tournament TBA

Saturday, October 14 = AT Class 3A State Tournament TBA

2023 LADY VIKING JUNIOR VARSITY TENNIS SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, August 22 = At Buhler JV Invitational (8 schools)

Thursday, August 24 = At Ellsworth JV Invitational (8 schools)

Tuesday, August 29 = At McPherson JV Invitational (8 schools)

Thursday, August 31 = Host Lady Viking JV Tournament (with Central Plains, Concordia, Haven, Hesston, Wichita Collegiate)

Tuesday, September 5 = At Hesston JV Invitational (8 schools)

Tuesday, September 12 = At Hesston JV Invitational (6 schools)

Tuesday, September 19 = At Salina South JV Tournament (7 schools)

Thursday, September 21 = Host Lady Viking JV Tournament (with Abilene, Ellsworth, Haven, Hoisington, Lyons, Salina Sacred Heart)

Tuesday, September 26 = At Hesston JV Invitational (8 schools)

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