ABOVE: Back row, from left to right: Head coach Laura Olsen, Emelia Klanderud, Madysen Tonne, Claire Brockmann, Samantha Thatcher, Ivy Schomberg and assistant coach Tim Slama. Middle row (L to R): Emily Wheeler, Madisyn Peyman, Katherine Zelaya, Cailwyn Jobe, Carly Gustafson and Hailee Greeley. Front row (L to R): Ella Wubbena and Allison Slama. Photo courtesy of Seifried Portrait Design.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont girls tennis team sees a change in leadership roles and hopes for continued success off of their fourth-place finish in the state tournament last season. Hosting three new determined captains, they are focused on team growth and developing their performance to contribute to the vision.

Coming off of an 11-5 season, the team’s lineup has changed quite a bit over the offseason, as have their competition.

“We had some tough competition, some teams that have been good for a long time,” Fairmont girls tennis head coach Laura Olsen said. “A lot of those teams graduated some top players last year. So we’re just really excited for, you know, all the opportunities and the possibilities this year.”

Even with a fresh roster, coach Olsen and assistant coach Tim Slama have no intention of changing their approach with the team, maintaining that the aim is for the team to give a hundred percent on the court every match.

“We have that model of giving a hundred percent, leave it all out on the court. Sometimes you just have to accept what happens even if you’ve given a hundred percent,” said Olsen. “We try to just have some fun but also work hard. I don’t think we’ve really had to change a whole lot though. All these girls have been really receptive and seem to be working. They’re making progress.”

The team has four returning varsity players and a handful of players that have been practicing with the squad for several years. The fresh roster is something that the coaches are embracing, stating that it is a talented group and that there is little doubt that they will have success on the court this year.

“A couple of them were playing that fourth doubles and practicing with varsity all last year,” Olsen said. “Six to eight players who have been practicing at the varsity level for a couple of years now.”

Even with the loss of six players on the varsity squad, Slama is excited for the year ahead, citing that he has high expectations for the season.

“Even with the loss of six of 10 varsity players due to graduation, we expect to be one of the top teams in the section and conference,” Slama said. “The addition of Ella Wubbena to the four singles slot and seniors stepping up from junior varsity to varsity will be a great start.”

The team opened the season Saturday with a 6-1 team win against Austin. With Emelia Klanderud winning at No. 1 singles 6-3, 6-0, Allison Slama at No. 2 singles winning 6-0, 6-0, Madi Peyman winning at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-0, and Ella Wubbena 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.