“It’s a possibility that Yuba College may not support a men’s team without a women’s team,” stated Yuba College’s head tennis coach Josh Pager. There is no women’s tennis team for Yuba College this season, only a men’s team.
There are currently seven players on the men’s tennis roster, but there were not enough women on campus to start make a small team. This is the second time in seven years that coach Pager has suffered the absence of a women’s team.
Hopefully next year Yuba College will have better luck since many local high schools have a fresh batch of talented tennis players. Pager said, “Lindhurst high and Marysville high both are carrying more than 40 tennis players on their teams. Yuba City also has 24 players.”
Next year Yuba College will have an additional two players that carry some of the best potential in the area, Daniel Henke and Shawn Alrich.
Although both of the incoming players are male, Yuba College may get lucky enough to recruit some female players from local high school teams. The tennis team lost a few of its players with student transfers.
Becky Khein, Kevin Buyse, and Glen Smith all tranfered to Sonoma state after playing for Yuba’s tennis team, and Khein ended up playing number one at Sonoma state. Coach Prager stated that Yuba College will be holding a fall tennis class at the Yuba City Raquet Club and encourages any potential players, especially women to come out and give it a shot.
Josh Pager has done a lot to keep the college’s tennis team alive, which includes assisting in the team’s funding.
During the 2003-2005 seasons, the team was not supported by the college other than paying the instructor, which he used to keep the tennis team financially afloat. “We had to raise over $10,000 a year to pay for entry fees, van rentals, coach’s pay, tennis balls and court rentals,” Prager said.
In 2004 and 2005, coach Pager and assistant coach Helen Bowman each paid more than $5,000 a year to help the tennis team because fundraising efforts failed to be successful.
Although Yuba’s tennis woes have had sough times throughout recent tears, the coaches are optimistic and hope for the best next season.
“This year were are unranked and have started the season 0-3,” said Prager. “If any men or women are interested in playing in 2008, contact me through the athletic department on campus or at joshprager@yahoo.com.”
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