NEW PALESTINE — Coach Jean Graham has a luxury with her New Palestine boys tennis team.
She has both youth and experience.
Along with having most of her 2022 team back, she still does not have many seniors on the squad.
Only Eli Sloan, a varsity doubles player last season, is a senior on this year’s projected varsity lineup.
Moses Haynes, Arjomand Khokhar, Max Havel, Brady Torzewski and Joey McPike all return with ample varsity experience, and all are juniors.
Haynes is expected to return to his No. 1 singles spot. He was an All-District 4 selection, as well as a unanimous selection to the All-Hoosier Heritage Conference team.
He finished 12-5 in singles matches, advancing to the individual sectional tournament after recording the lone win in the team’s final match, a 4-1 decision to Greenfield-Central in the semifinal round of the Mt. Vernon Sectional.
A year ago, the youthful Dragons finished 8-11, with a few tough 3-2 losses.
Graham is hopeful with an extra year of experience that record will improve.
“We’re going to try to make an improvement on our record from last year and make a good run in the county and sectional with our boys,” Graham said. “They’re good kids, working hard and doing well in the classroom.”
While Haynes has a lockdown on the No. 1 spot, three varsity veterans, Khokhar, Torzewski and McPike, are vying for the remaining two singles positions.
Khokhar played most of last season at No. 2 singles. Graham said she could see him move in the lineup and possibly play doubles.
Sloan and Havel played No. 1 doubles together last season. Junior Tyler Wilson, a junior varsity player a year ago, is another candidate for one of the doubles spots.
“We were extremely young last year and we have them all back with the exception of one senior (Will Hahn),” Graham said. “They’re more experienced and playing better.”
The Dragons open the season Monday with a home match against Greensburg. They’ll have three home matches the opening week, hosting Whiteland Tuesday and the first HHC match Thursday against Yorktown.
New Palestine will host the Hancock County Tournament on Sept. 9.
The school has renovated the tennis facility and Graham said she is hopeful it will be ready for next week’s opening matches. If not, matches will be played at the New Palestine Junior High.
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2023 New Palestine Boys Tennis Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 14;vs. Greensburg;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 15;vs. Whiteland;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17;vs. Yorktown;5 p.m.
Aug. 21;at Delta;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 22;vs. Franklin;5 p.m.
Aug. 23;vs. Greenfield-Central;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Shenandoah;5 p.m.
Aug. 26;vs. Noblesville;10 a.m.
Aug. 28;vs. Eastern Hancock;5 p.m.
Aug. 29;at Waldron;5 p.m.
Aug. 31;vs. Shelbyville;5 p.m.
Sept. 6;at Lawrence Central;5 p.m.
Sept. 9;County (New Palestine);9 a.m.
Sept. 11;at Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 13;at New Castle;5 p.m.
Sept. 14;vs. Triton Central;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 18;vs. Richmond;5 p.m.
Sept. 20;vs. Mt. Vernon;4:30 p.m.
Sept. 21;vs. Chatard;4:30 p.m.
