Experience leading the way for Viking netters

Members of the 2023 Decorah girls’ tennis team includes (front, l-r) Coach Phil Yee, Coach Kristy Schilling, Kaitlyn Bjork, Klaara Short, Jenna Hartz, Evon Leitz, Annalise Skrade, Alynne Brandel, Gwen Thompson, Corina Timm, Alina Tallier, Coach Annika Krieg, Coach Reg Laursen; (middle row) Camryn Holland, Liz Pritchard, Lizzy Andrusishin, Addison Maki, Dylin Thompson, Olivia Huinker, Jaidyn Duvel, Lexy Walker, Bethany Hanson, Grace Huinker, Head Coach Amanda Huinker; (back row) Grace Stockman, Myla Leitz, Hazel Quam, Emma Cline, Willow Shroyer, McKinley Massman, Braunwyn Darrington, Rylee Averhoff, Anika Grinna, Addison Wicklund, Brenna Parker, Mara Branum and Isis Timm. Not pictured is Haley Gossman. (Photo courtesy of Tami Bohr)

By Becky Walz,

Monday, April 17, 2023 9:52 am

Members of the 2023 Decorah girls’ tennis team includes (front, l-r) Coach Phil Yee, Coach Kristy Schilling, Kaitlyn Bjork, Klaara Short, Jenna Hartz, Evon Leitz, Annalise Skrade, Alynne Brandel, Gwen Thompson, Corina Timm, Alina Tallier, Coach Annika Krieg, Coach Reg Laursen; (middle row) Camryn Holland, Liz Pritchard, Lizzy Andrusishin, Addison Maki, Dylin Thompson, Olivia Huinker, Jaidyn Duvel, Lexy Walker, Bethany Hanson, Grace Huinker, Head Coach Amanda Huinker; (back row) Grace Stockman, Myla Leitz, Hazel Quam, Emma Cline, Willow Shroyer, McKinley Massman, Braunwyn Darrington, Rylee Averhoff, Anika Grinna, Addison Wicklund, Brenna Parker, Mara Branum and Isis Timm. Not pictured is Haley Gossman. (Photo courtesy of Tami Bohr)

With the season already under way, it is clear that the experience of the Decorah girls tennis team will be the key to successful run in the 2023 postseason with the Vikes already 4-2 in duals.
Taking the reins for her inaugural season is Amanda Huinker, who is just the second coach in the program’s history, with assistants Reg Laursen, Phil Yee, Kristy Schilling and Annika Krieg.

Talent on the court
In many ways this is a rebuilding year for Decorah girls tennis with a combination of new, young players and returning varsity/letter winners.
Huinker has four athletes back with a letter who are leading the way. Returners include senior Annalise Skrade (9-5 singles mark, 17-4 in doubles) who teamed up with Mara Holland last season to finish third in Class 1A doubles action. Also returning are Haley Gossman (8-0 singles, 11-1 doubles), Evon Leitz (13-4 singles, 12-4 doubles) and Jenna Hartz (9-9 singles, 5-2 doubles).
They are joined by juniors Annika Grinna and Corina Timm; sophomores Camryn Holland, Klaara Short and Jaidyn Duvel; and freshmen Olivia Huinker, Mara Branum, Kaitlyn Bjork and Addison Maki.
“The girls have been working hard in practice; they have committed to conditioning and practicing with a variety of teammates at their hitting level in the understanding that we must work together to be successful.  Our seniors and returning varsity/upper JV players have shown great leadership in practice by modeling a solid work ethic, support and encouragement of teammates and positivity. Our experienced varsity players have been emotionally and verbally supportive of and encouraging to their new varsity teammates. Our younger players have an incredible amount of athleticism, and this combined with their competitiveness and growing love for the sport of tennis is awesome to see — we have so much potential, and I am so excited to work with these girls and watch them grow!” said the first-year coach.
“We are a young team. While we do have returning letter winners/varsity players, our line-up does include many new faces and girls who haven’t had the same on-court experiences that their opponents will have,” noted Coach Huinker. “It goes without saying that the girls are adjusting to me and my leadership and coaching style, but they also have the consistency of returning assistant coaches Reg Laursen, Kristy Shilling and Phil Yee and benefit from the positive energy of our newest assistant coach (and former Decorah player) Annika Krieg.  I am so thankful I have such an amazing group of coaches surrounding me and the girls.”

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