Musselman’s tennis team has gone through huge changes going into this season. With only 2 returning players, seniors Clayton Dunham and Cash Canfield, and only 6 players in total, the team is sure to be an interesting topic. Star players Tyler Kitner, Trey Higgins, Detrick Duval, and Chaz Fields were all graduated off the team this past year. Is it possible this team can produce a run to the state tournament like last year’s?

Coach Spencer, who has been the team’s coach for roughly 20 years, no longer works at Musselman as an English teacher. As the team’s coach has become a principal at Mountain Ridge Middle, he wasn’t able to recruit players like he has been able to in previous years.

“I definitely think it affected the amount of players this year. I think roughly 80% of players who’ve been on the team came from classes that I taught,” said Coach Spencer.

This is definitely an adjustment, but this year’s team still features some promise. Sophomores Darragh Goodwyn and Carson Taber have both joined the team, as well as Darragh’s older brother, senior Kylyn Goodwyn.

“I think we can definitely give some of the more well developed tennis teams in the county some problems,” said Cash Canfield.

This year’s goal seems to be improvement and growth, as the two returning players have played for just 2 years. With young players coming for their first season, there is a ton of room for potential growth and this season will prove to be a base for these players to grow from.