With a roster loaded with upperclassmen and a renewed commitment to offseason work, the Putnam County girls and boys tennis teams entered this season believing it could be a turning point for the program.
Head coach Christian Keiser said the experience across both lineups has raised expectations, particularly after what he described as the most productive offseason since taking over the program.
“This is a big year for us,” Keiser said. “We’re full of upperclassmen, and that experience is huge.”
Putnam County returns six senior girls and three senior boys, with the remainder of the boys’ roster made up of juniors. According to Keiser, the veteran presence has already paid dividends, as both teams opened their schedules with a 2–1 record.
The boys’ team earned two narrow 3–2 victories over Lincoln County, while dropping a tight 3–2 decision to Washington-Wilkes. Keiser said what stood out most was not just the wins, but the balance throughout the lineup.
“We won in different ways,” he said. “Different people stepped up in those matches. It shows we’re not relying on one person to carry the team.”
Senior Leland Erickson anchors the boys’ lineup. At the same time, junior Robert Thomas has emerged as a strong presence at second singles, posting a 2–1 record and pushing top competition early in the season.
Keiser added that the team’s depth allows it to remain competitive, regardless of where points come from.
The boys reached the state playoffs last season after finishing third in the region and faced Model, which reached the Final Four last season. Keiser believes that exposure to high-level competition has helped prepare his players for this year’s region race.
“My expectations are high for the boys,” he said. “It’s hard to scout in tennis, but with the roster turnover across the region, I expect us to compete.”
The girls’ team also leans heavily on senior leadership, with a core group that has grown together over four seasons. Hannah Erickson leads the lineup at first singles, followed by Vidhi Raiyani, Carolyn Thomas, and a veteran doubles group that includes Joelle Lukens and Addie Grace Usry.
The girls opened the season with convincing wins over Lincoln County (4–1) and Washington-Wilkes (5–0); however, dropped a close 3–2 rematch with Lincoln County. Significantly, Raiyani, last season’s team MVP and a first-team all-region selection, was unavailable.
Despite the loss, Keiser said the experience was valuable for players forced to compete out of position. Abigail Pratt stepped into the lineup and battled in a competitive third singles match, while Thomas moved up to second singles and played well against strong opposition.
“That’s going to help us in the long run,” Keiser said. “They competed, and that’s what you want to see.”
Last season, the girls came within one match of advancing past the first round of the state playoffs, falling 3–1 to Banks County in the closest postseason showing of Keiser’s tenure.
“This year, the expectation is to get over that hump,” he said. “I don’t want to oversell it, but I expect us to compete.”
Both teams finished third in the region a year ago, but Keiser believes the combination of experience, depth, and buy-in has positioned Putnam County for a strong season.
“Everything’s shaping up,” he said. “We’ve played a lot of matches over the years, and we’ve won a lot, too. Expectations are high.”