ACES RETURNING — Members of the Fairmont Cardinals’ spring tennis team playing host to Worthington in its season-opening meet on April 9 at the Cardinal Courts in Fairmont include, front row (left to right): Daniella Becerra, Simone Castro, Colton Schroeder, Lilly Ortega and Juan Arias Ramirez. Middle row: Assistant coach Lara Ellis, Wylee Frederiksen, Anthony Stegge, Matthew Malo, Oliver Thedens, Tyler Slama, Carter Quist and assistant coach Tim Slama. Back row: Assistant coach Olivia Ortega, Sebastian Castro, Jonah Vetter, Leon Yang, Dominick Lund-May, Levi Loughmiller, Zachary Ashland, Jonathan Heinze and head coach Laura Olsen. Not pictured: Reed Wagner. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

FAIRMONT — The Fairmont spring tennis program features a new head coach, and she’s definitely a familiar face to the Cardinal faithful who follow the sport in the fall.

Laura Olsen, who has transformed the Fairmont girls lineup into a state qualifier and regular sectional contender, will fill the void left by Eric Johnson’s departure after a lengthy coaching tenure.

“I was the assistant coach under Eric last spring and know the players, so it’s not too big of a change,” said Olsen. “Like in the fall, I have Tim (Slama) helping coach the varsity, so that’s a big plus, too.

“Olivia Ortega went from player last spring to a coach this year after graduating, and we added Lara Ellis to our staff, so it should be a good mix.”

Olsen and the Cardinals will play host to Worthington in their season-opening dual meet on April 9 at the Cardinal Courts in Fairmont.

“Our schedule is pretty heavy on the home side,” Olsen said in reference to her tennis lineup’s total of 10 upcoming duals in Fairmont.

Olsen and her coaching staff will turn to seven returning varsity veterans and another netter with varsity experience, who missed all of last season due to an injury, to generate match points.

Sebastian Castro and Carter Quist will be a pair of seniors delivering serves again after playing at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, respectively, during Fairmont’s Section 2A Team Meet quarterfinal in 2023.

“Carter and Sebastian have taken the early initiative to plan practices and have done a great job of teaching the younger and inexperienced players the game,” said Olsen. “Carter will likely play at the top doubles position in our lineup again since he’s a great strategist no matter who he has as a playing partner.

“We’re working with Sebastian on becoming more comfortable in singles, although he has the versatility to play doubles, too.”

Olsen sees junior Dominick Lund-May in a similar situation as Sebastian Castro, but knows the left-hander will “play well wherever we put him in the lineup.”

Lund-May combined court skills with Quist at the No. 1 doubles position during the Cardinals’ sectional team meet.

Junior Simone Castro and sophomore Wylee Frederiksen also return to the courts for Fairmont after competing at third and fourth singles, respectively, during the postseason team tournament.

“Simone is a strong doubles player, and can play well with just about anyone who she’s paired with,” said Olsen. “Wylee’s a player we’re developing into both a singles and a doubles player to give us more flexibility to our overall lineup.”

Freshman Anthony Stegge and eighth-grader Tyler Slama round out the returning nucleus of netters after teaming at third doubles during sectional action a year ago.

“Both Tyler and Anthony really love the game and play a lot of tennis throughout the year, and each has the ability to play at whatever position — singles or doubles — we put them in,” said Olsen.

Junior Oliver Thedens returns to the courts this spring after missing the entire 2023 campaign due to an injury.

The senior foursome of Daniella Becerra, Matthew Malo, Jonathan Heinze and Reed Wagner will vie for playing time, along with junior Juan Arias Ramirez.

Sophomores Levi Loughmiller and Zachary Ashland, freshman Leon Yang, eighth-grader Jonah Vetter and seventh-graders Lilly Ortega and Colton Schroeder will round out the Cardinals’ roster this spring.

“Now we just need to get outside to hit in those conditions to figure out where everyone fits into our lineup,” said Olsen. “It’s good to see our older players teaching our younger ones about all of the aspects of the game.

“We encourage our players to lead in their own ways and believe that they all bring something to the table skill-wise.”