MP tennis teams get set for 2019

The sun is shining at East Lake park, and that's good news for both Mt. Pleasant Tennis teams, who begin their new season this week.

The two squads enter the spring on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The boys' team is coming off a conference championship last season and the girls are looking for some vengeance after finishing at the bottom of the league.

The boys' team will be hurting from losing a state-qualifying player in Ethan Weber, as well as Elijah Plooster who was also one of the team's varsity six.

Mt. Pleasant will look to returning varsity players Jaxon Hoyle, Corbin Broeker, Donny Arledge and Jack Schimmelpfennig, as well as Clayton Henriksen, who saw varsity time last season.

The Panthers scored 19 points at the conference meet last sesaon, narrowly defeating Ft. Madison, who scored 15. Fairfield comes back as the third-place SEC team from last year, putting up 13, and Keokuk will look to rebound from a seven-point performance at conference.

The girls' team will also be trying to make up for the loss of their top player. Quinn Whaley was lost to graduation last season, as was Ellie Larson.

Erin Zihlman, who played as the team's No. 2 player last season will be returning for her senior season. She is joined by Hallie Sandeen, Shaleen Thiengmany, Sierra Barton and Breena Runyon, all graced the varsity lineup last year.

Mt. Pleasant scored just three points in last season's conference tournament, putting them six points back of third-place Keokuk. In 2018, Fairfield and Ft. Madison dominated the conference, and showed out at the SEC tournament by scoring 22 points and 20 points respectively.

The high school tennis season is scheduled to begin today (Tuesday). The girls' meet in Ft. Madison has been postponed. The boys will be hosting the Bloodhounds at East Lake.