Tennis - Girls - Mercer Island High School

Girls Tennis Coaching Staff
Head Coach:	Assistant Coaches:
Jacquie Hartmann	Ron Akins
	Barbara (Leigh) Perks
	Shelley Whelan

INFORMATION 2025 Season:

All registered athletes will meet at the Mercer Island Country Club at 3:15pm on the first day of practice, weather permitting.

Regular Season practice times and locations:

Varsity: 3:15-4:45 M-F MIHS courts, Practice until 5 p.m. on challenge match days

JV1: 4:15-5:30 M-F MIHS courts

JV2: 3:20-4:30 Tues, Wed, and Thurs. Homestead courts

Picture day: TBD

Registration: FINAL FORMS

Click Final Forms to access MIHS registration site
Create a new user ID within Final Forms to register for sports.
Link to step-by-step directions for setting up your Final Forms account can be found HERE

Key Registrations Dates:

Registration for all sports open July 1st 2024
Football Registration closes August 30th
- First day of Football is August 21st
  - Fall Cut sports, Registration closes: August 22nd
Winter Cut Sports Registration closes: November 9^th
Spring Cut Sports Registration closes: February 27th

*Note for incoming 9th graders, your sports physicals on file at the Middle School do not transfer to the athletic office. You will need to supply a current physical

Sports fees:

Please pay through our online payment system Intouch
An ASB card (ASB Fee $75) must be purchased to participate in any sport.
$350.00 per sport per season For Payment Plan options, please contact Becky LeMaster
Refund Notice (please refer to Eligibility Handbook): You are eligible for a refund for two weeks after the start of the season. No refunds are issued after the second week.

Uniform and Equipment Late Fee Policy:

A $25.00 late fee and a replacement cost of the uniform and/ or equipment will be assessed if an athlete does not return uniforms during designated time

Try Out Information:

What Happens at Tryouts?

Tryouts begin with a meeting at the MIHS tennis courts immediately after school on March 3rd. Come ready to play with your racket and a water bottle. There will be a quick coach introduction, a short warm up and then tryouts begin on the courts. If there is rain, we will meet at Mercer Island Country Club. Everyone will be evaluated by all the coaches. We nearly always have rainy days during our first week of tryouts. We do our best to determine teams quickly.

How are Players Evaluated:

In addition to tennis skills, we look at agility, foot speed, balance, general athleticism, attitude, work ethic and enthusiasm for the sport. If we are hampered by rain, the evaluation process may be adjusted and take longer.

Once teams are set, every team will have challenge ladders. This enables players to compete and demonstrate improvement during the season. In some instances, players who emerge at the top of their team through challenges may move up to the next team or play in matches with the next higher team.

How Many players are on each team?

*Girls Tennis will be a cut sport if the number of players trying out exceeds 50. In 2018, we had 93 girls tryouts.*

Team size is variable from year to year because we group together players of similar skill level as part of determining team size. In general, team size targets will be:

Varsity 12

JV1 16-18

JV2 16-18

What is the Time Commitment During the Season?

No matter which team you are assigned to, each player should block out 3 p.m.-6 p.m M-F from March 3rd May 31st. Every day must be blocked out for practices and matches throughout the entire season. We do not have practices or matches during Spring Break. Matches can happen any day of the week and, due to rainouts, we can have as many as 3-4 matches a week toward the end of the season.

What if I have a weekly conflict and will miss a day or part of a practice each week?

A tennis team is not doable for those who have any type of consistent weekly conflict. Examples of conflicts we do not excuse are Driver’s Ed, non-MIHS Theater, private music lessons, work, club sports, SAT prep and tutoring. We understand that Mercer Island Students have packed schedules, but participating on tennis team requires a full commitment.

What about Academic Conflicts?

Occasional school curriculum conflicts are excused, such as MIHS band, drama, DECA or a class trip. Major testing for SAT, ACT and AP are also valid excuses.

If you are unable to commit to a tennis team this year, we encourage you to continue to enjoy tennis recreationally and try out for a tennis team when your schedule allows it!

What Skills are Required to Make a Team?

Prior to 2018 tennis was a “no-cut” sport. However, depending on the number who tryout it is possible that there will be cuts. We do not provide tennis lessons for beginners. If you are still learning tennis, do not know how to serve or score we suggest you continue to work on your game. There are wonderful public tennis centers in our area that provide private and group lessons and court rental - Amy Yee Tennis Center in Seattle and Robinswood Tennis Center in Bellevue. There are 6 locations with free outdoor public courts on Mercer Island. There are also numerous private clubs and tennis academies in the area.

For your guidance, below is a description of the general skill level we see at each of our team levels:

JV2:

NTRP LEVEL: 2.0

This player needs on-court experience, with an emphasis on play. This player struggles to find an appropriate contact point, needs stroke development/lessons and is not yet familiar with basic positions for singles and doubles.

NTRP LEVEL: 2.5

This player is learning to judge where the ball is going when receiving the ball, although movement and recovery are not in sync. Can sustain a rally of slow pace with other players of similar ability and is beginning to develop strokes. This player is becoming more familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles. This player is ready to play social matches, leagues and low-level tournaments.

Potential limitations: grip weaknesses; not attempting full swing on serve; inconsistent toss on serve; limited transitions to net.

JV1:

NTRP LEVEL: 3.0

This player is fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks execution when trying for directional control, depth, pace or altering distance of shots. Most common doubles formation is one up, one back.

Potential limitations: consistency when applying or handling pace; difficulty handling shots “outside of their strike zone”; can be uncomfortable at the net.

NTRP LEVEL: 3.5

This player has achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but still lacks depth, variety and the ability to alter distance of shots. The effective use of lobs, overheads, approach shots, and volleys is limited due to a lack of confidence. This player is more comfortable at the net, has improved court awareness, and is developing teamwork in doubles.

Potential limitations or strengths: “This is the level at which it begins to be about what skills a player can display on court, not what they can’t.” Players at this level may start to utilize mental skills related to concentration, tactics and strategy.

Varsity:

NTRP LEVEL: 4.0

This player has dependable strokes, including directional control, depth and the ability to alter distance of shots on both forehand and backhand sides during moderately paced play, plus the ability to use lobs, overheads, approach shots, and volleys with more success. This player occasionally forces errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident.

Potential strengths: less likely to beat themselves; more dependable second serve; recognizes opportunities to finish points.

Varsity Post-Season Qualifier

NTRP LEVEL: 4.5

This player has begun to vary the use of pace and spins, has good movement, can control distance and depth of shots, and is beginning to develop game plans according to strengths and weaknesses. This player can hit the first serve with power and accuracy and can place the second serve. This player tends to overhit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.

Potential strengths: points are won and lost off the serve more often; better able to cover weaknesses; beginning to develop a weapon around which their game can be built.

State Champion

NTRP LEVEL: 5.0

This player has good shot anticipation and frequently has an outstanding shot or attribute around which their game can be structured. This player has the confidence to regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys, can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overheads, and has good depth and spin on most second serves.

Potential strengths: better decision making; covers and disguises weaknesses well; mentally tougher, but can still break down in stress situations.

Congratulations to those that have made the teams.

We have a great match schedule for all teams and look forward to getting the season underway. Teams will be fluid during the season and may change as players develop their skills. You may be invited to practice and/or play in a match with a higher team. Bring a good work ethic to the courts every day and your efforts will yield results!

For a match schedule preview go to: http://www.kingcoathletics.com/index.php?pid=0.7.90.18.321. Click on your individual team schedule.

CHAMPIONSHIPS
STATE CHAMPS 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1991 1991 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2023 2024
STATE RUNNER-UP 1993
KINGCO CHAMPS 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2023 2024

MIHS Hall of Fame Members
1978 Leslie Tobin
1980 Terri Agee
1982 Lori Brillhart
1982 Erin Majury
1985 Mindy Mounger
1985 Wendy Gross
1987 Cindy Olejar
1988 Shelley Keeler
1989 Liz Allen
1989 April Appel
1993 Erin Gowen
1998 Allison Rindlaub
1999 Katie Cunha
2001 Lindsey Adams
2004 Stephanie Hammond
1991-2009 Joyce Hedlund (Coach)

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Tennis - Girls

INFORMATION 2025 Season:

Registration: FINAL FORMS

Key Registrations Dates:

Lindsey Blaine

Becky LeMaster

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