By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, the Perham/New York Mills tennis team will have a bit of a new look this season as Hope Schmitz will take over the head coaching duties from Jameson Miller. She will be joined on the coaching staff this season by a pair of familiar faces in Kiera Radniecki and Lori Peterson. 

Last season the Yellowjackets finished with a record of 19-5 overall and fell in the semi-finals of the section tournament to a talented Becker squad. 

Five letter winners will be leading the charge for the Yellowjackets, who have been practicing in NY Mills this summer as the tennis courts are being refinished in Perham. Among the letter winners will be Aurora Jabas who finished in fourth place in the section last year individuals, Lilliahna Klettke, Hazel Dykhoff, Kenzlee Rodewald and Lauren Gjerde. Unfortunately, Gjerde will miss the season as she is recovering from a town ACL injury. 

Schmitz identified a number of other players who could make an impact on the varsity level this season, including Tayla Vandermay, Nora Rosenthal and Cora Wiser. 

As a team the Perham/NY Mills tennis team includes: 

• Seniors: Cora Wiser, Nora Rosenthal and Lucey Minten

• Juniors: Hazel Dykhoff, Aurora Jabas, Brightyn Barthel, Nora Murdock, Brooklyn Glorvigen and Lauren Gjerde

• Sophomores: Lilliahna Klettke, Tayla Vandemay, Kenzlee Rodewald, Daisy Carlson, Monica Bell and Jaya Bain

Schmitz said defending section champion Fergus Falls will be returning a number of players from last years team and will be a strong contender to repeat as section champions. She said Becker will also be a strong contender for the section title after finishing as the section runner up last year.