by Kaitlyn O’Neil, Reporter

The Jim Thorpe girls tennis team has paved the way for a great season. More than halfway into the season, they have put up a record of nine and six. The team has showed much hard work and dedication, which has been the main cause of success.

“I feel the tennis team is doing great this year. We have a lot of new, dedicated players that have been essential to the successful year we have been having,” said senior captain,  Brittney Marzen.

Marzen has been playing tennis since her sophomore year of high school, and is the number one player on the team. Along with Brittney, the team will be saying goodbye to four other seniors this year. Among them is Marni Quevedo, number two singles player, Caitlin Holt, number three singles player and senior captain, Ellana Adames, number two doubles player, and Lauren Hill who has been unable to play this season due to injury.

Just as the team has returning players, they also have many new players that have been an asset to the team.

“I love the sport and everyone on the team. It is basically another family for me,” says freshman and first year team member, Chloe Getz.

Along with Chloe, the team holds six more new players. They are: Evelyn Flores, freshman, Kaitlyn O’Neil, freshman and number two doubles player, Christina Theiling, freshman, Angelica Uzar, sophomore and number one doubles player, and Triselle and Trisanna Samuels, juniors.

Leanna Van Essendelft is a returning sophomore to the team who plays as a number one doubles player. Van Essendelft says this year is very different than her first year on the team.

“I have improved a lot, am able to place the ball better and have a harder serve, and this season’s record is already higher than last years.”

The girls team is coached by Norb Leinhart, head coach and Janet Farra, assistant coach. Leinhart and Farra have been very pleased with the team this year, and said they have seen improvement in all of the girls hitting. This season has been a boost for tennis in general and has given the coaches and team confidence. The girls tennis team hopes to continue winning, hitting well, and having fun. The conclusion of the season will be bittersweet for everyone.