LADY BUFFS TENNIS: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020
GARDEN CITY LADY BUFFALOES
Season Preview
Head Coach: Logan Bevis (1st Season)
Garden City High School didn’t have to look far to find a new tennis coach after the retirement in the spring by Rod Robinson, who led the Buffaloes’ boys and girls programs for 17 seasons before putting the racket and teaching tools away.
While in his first year as the Buffaloes’ head coach, Logan Bevis is no stranger to the GCHS program, having spent the previous two years as Robinson’s assistant. He also has been with the boys’ program for three previous seasons.
Bevis inherits a team that has dominated the WAC in recent years, with 2019 being another strong one as the Lady Buffs claimed the team championship. While he lost his No. 1 singles player, four-year starter Carson Linenberger to graduation, Bevis does return a solid core group with plenty of varsity experience.
Of his six varsity players, three return, including last year’s No. 2 singles Sage Riggs, who posted an impressive 30-6 record to earn a spot a the Class 6A state tournament. Riggs took second in the regional tourney and won the No. 2 singles WAC title. In addition to Linenberger, doubles player Carole Galia also graduated after placing second in WAC.
The Buffs’ No. 2 doubles team of now senior Ashley Chappel and now sophomore Brook Ptacek returns after winning the WAC title in their division and posting a 21-10 record en route to a spot at the state tourney. Bevis also will have returners who saw some varsity action in senior Rilee McGraw and sophomores Sydnee Nanninga and Chloe Powell.
“Replacing three of our top players from last year’s team, we will be a young team with relatively limited experience,” Bevis said. “Sage (Riggs) will be in her third year on varsity and will be looking to become a more vocal leader for the team after her successful sophomore year.”
Bevis said it’s also a positive to have a doubles team that played a full season together in 2019.
“Ashley and Brooke also bring back valuable experience from last year,” Bevis said. “Our summer tennis program was limited due to COVID-19, but the majority of our top 10 returners took advantage of the opportunities they had and improved over the summer.”
2020 Schedule: Sept. 12—at Great Bend; Sept. 15—at Dodge City; Sept. 19—at Valley Center; Sept. 21—at Haysville-Campus; Sept. 26—GARDEN CITY INV.; Oct. 1—at Hutchinson; Oct. 5—WAC Championship; Oct. 9-10e—Class 6A Regionals; Oct. 16-17—Class 6A State.
Garden City High School 