Putnam County’s boys and girls tennis programs are off to an impressive start this season, and head coach Christian Keiser couldn’t be more pleased with the early momentum.
Both teams entered this week with 8-2 records, signaling a strong foundation heading into next week’s region tournament.
“The boys are having a big season,” Keiser said. “We’ve been around .500 the past couple of years, so to see them on the rise with a more dominant winning record is huge for their confidence heading into region play.”
While the boys are striving to build a consistent winning culture, the girls continue to uphold their reputation as one of the top squads in the area.
“We’re kind of used to being one of the top ones,” Keiser said of the Lady War Eagles. “They’ve been winning for a while, so it’s great to see them maintaining that success while the boys are starting to catch up.”
Keiser noted that while the teams are prepared, nothing is guaranteed in competitive tennis.
“You never know how people are going to perform on a given day, so we can’t count any chickens before they hatch,” he said.
Standout performers have played a major role in the team’s success this season. On the boys’ side, Leland Erickson remains undefeated in region play at the number-one singles spot. At the same time, third singles player Carlos Jimenez also remains unbeaten, giving the team a reliable base.
“Those two matches have been almost like guaranteed wins in region play, which is huge for us,” Keiser said.
The girls’ doubles teams have been equally impressive. Joelle Lukens and Addie Grace Usry remain unbeaten on the season, while a recent lineup change featuring Daniela Cruz-Perez and newcomer Yashvi Patel at second doubles has already paid dividends.
“That’s a big deal for us because it’s almost like having one win locked in every match,” Keiser explained.
Beyond wins and losses, Keiser emphasized the program’s growth and his players’ personal development.
“The first year I took over, that was the first year we got our courts, and many of these players were just starting out,” he said. “To see them now, becoming young adults and having success on and off the court, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Both teams have faced some close calls, including narrow 3-2 losses to Social Circle on the boys’ side and Lamar on the girls’ side. Regardless, Keiser believes those tight matches demonstrate the potential and resilience of his teams.
“It really just comes down to how good of a day we have when it counts,” he said. “It’s just really rewarding to see the progression of both programs.”
With the regular season coming to an end, Putnam County’s tennis teams are performing at a high level. Both squads now have their sights set on winning the region tournament and making a deep postseason run next month.