Central Oregonian

Cowgirls in midst of rebuilding year

After two strong seasons team has less depth this year

LON AUSTIN/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Annie Fraser is expected to be a member of the Cowgirls No. 1 doubles team. Fraser will team with Ali Apperson. Both players qualified for state last year, but with different partners.

Lon Austin

March 11, 2013

After two years on top of the tennis world, the Crook County Cowgirls are in something of a rebuilding year.

The Cowgirls finished second at state a year ago after winning the team title the year before.

However, the team lost a number of quality players to graduation and are not expected to be as strong this year.

“We won’t have the depth,” said head coach Lloyd Rodgers. “We are rebuilding right now, but if we get a couple more people out then we will be ok.”

After a week of practice the team had just nine players. However, Rodgers is confident that they will be able to fill the remainder of the roster.

Despite the lack of depth he believes that the team will still be competitive.

“Everybody’s pumped,” Rodgers said. “With as good a kids as we have at the top, we can still do some damage at the state level.”

Rodgers is expecting No. 1 singles player Elsa Harris to vie for an individual state championship. Harris earned a trip to the state championships last year, gaining valuable experience. In addition, she has been playing in the Champs series in the off season, a tennis series for national level youth tennis players.

“She’s just jumped up three levels,” Rodgers said. “It’s all coming together for her in the Champs division. She knows how to play the game now and she’s smarter out there.”

Rodgers also expects big things from doubles players Ali Apperson and Annie Frazer. Both competed at state last year, but with different partners.

“Fraser has worked in the off season and her ground strokes are much better and Apperson has always had good strokes we just have to instill the confidence in her,” Rodgers said.

Other players that are expected to have an impact for the Cowgirls are Katie Slawter, Jackie Nielson, Tiffany Puckett, Harli Bowers, and Jordan Rutz. Although she is not out yet, Rodgers is also hoping that Kyria Goertzen, who played last year will still come out.

“The kids are working hard and they all have great attitudes,”?Rodgers said.

The team will open their season on Thursday when they host Sisters in a 4 p.m. match.