GRIZZLY TENNIS Newport has a new tennis program this year, with about 26 players turning out to compete on the newly refurbished courts – 14 girls and 12 boys. “We are excited for this season and are very excited to be outside,” says first year coach Jocelyn Pearson. Newport will compete in the eightteam Northeast A League, with Chewelah, Colville, Deer Park, Freeman, Lakeside, Medical Lake and Riverside. Pearson will have her work cut out for her coaching the team, all of whom are first year players. The Newport tennis courts have been unused for decades. Top returnees: Since everyone is a first year high school tennis player in a first year program, nobody is returning. However senior girls are Laurel Behrend, Hope Ellingberg, Kiara Howard, Breanna Willis; juniors Cierra Mende, Connor Borches, Kesslyn Fleck, Aubrey Miller, Devon Whittle, Valicity Wright; sophomores Cydni Lewis, Miranda Campbell, Dee Deerwester, Leslie Frye, Daisy Gay, Cody Warner, Roslyn Willoughby and Aurora Zeason and freshmen Dawsen Baldwin, Lydia Jurgens, Cameron Whittle, Chase Graham and Jonathan Goodman. Top prospects: Boys: Connor Borches, Dawsen Baldwin, Jonathan Goodman, Chase Graham, Rylan
Hastings, Cody Warner, Dylan Warner and Cameron Whittle. Girls: Cierra Amende, Laurel Behrend, Kesslyn Fleck, Daisy Gay, Lydia Jurgens, Cydni Lewis, Breanna Willis and Aurora Zeason. Key losses: Since it’s a new program, there are no key losses. Overall projection of team’s chances in the Northeast A League: “We believe we will be competitive in our league,” first year coach Jocelyn Pearson says. “All of our players are learning to play tennis for the first time this year.” Strengths: “We have a very athletic group of players,” Pearson says. Weaknesses: “We do not have the experience of our opponents,” she says and noted the team only got on the courts less than a week before their first match.
Dawsen Baldwin Freshman
Jonathan Goodman Freshman
Chase Graham Freshman
Rylan Hastings Junior
Cody Warner Sophomore
Connor Borches Junior
Cameron Whittle Freshman
Kesslyn Fleck Junior
Tyler Hill Junior
Gage Seger Freshman
Devon Whittle Junior
Cierra Amende Junior
Laurel Behrend Senior
Cayson Maughan Sophomore
Lydia Jurgens Freshman
Cyndi Lewis Sophomore
Breanna Willis Senior
Aurora Zeason Sophomore
Aubrey Miller Junior
Erica Simila Junior
Michael Warner Junior
Jocelyn Pearson Head Coach
Head coach: Jocelyn Pearson Age: 31 Coaching experience: First year Teaching experience: Pearson is also a first year first grade teacher. Athletic experience: Pearson competed in basketball and volleyball in high school. She learned tennis from her husband after college and competed in open women’s tournaments prior to moving to Newport. Assistant coaches: Brandon McDaniel
Thursday, March 30 vs. Chewelah: 3:30 p.m. - Chewelah High School Tuesday, April 11 vs. Medical Lake: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Thursday, April 13 vs. Freeman: 3:30 p.m. - Freeman High School Friday, April 14 vs. Deer Park: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Tuesday, April 18 vs. Riverside: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Thursday, April 20 vs. Lakeside: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Saturday, April 22 vs. Colville: 11 a.m. - Colville High School (Girls Only) Tuesday, April 25 vs. Chewelah: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Tuesday, May 2 vs. Medical Lake: 3:30 p.m. - Medical Lake High School Thursday, May 4 vs. Freeman: 3:30 p.m. - Newport High School Friday, May 5 vs. Deer Park: 3:30 p.m. - Deer Park High School
2017 Spring Sports Preview
Not pictured: Dylan Warner, Junior Daisy Gay, Sophomore Leah O’Neal, Senior Valicity Wright, Junior Brandon McDaniel, Asst. Coach
PAGE 7