Rutland Herald Spring Sports Guide 2019
Tennis Preview Continued from page 18
varsity team in hopes of cultivating a
feeder program.
The Otters do not open the season
until after April vacation and the fi rst
opponent is Woodstock.
OTTER VALLEY
Short on numbers and long on
experience tells the tale of this edi-
tion of Otter Valley girls tennis. New
coach Hailey Watters has only seven
players but all saw some time with the
varsity squad last season.
Brenna McCullough will likely be in
the No. 1 spot.
The others are Evelyn Bart,
Meghan Chaney, Anoushka Pschor,
Madeline Morgan and Sydney Singh.
Watters played tennis at Otter
Valley for coach Jim Samler before
graduating in 2006.
Yet, it is not the sport she was
expecting to be coaching this spring.
She had been piloting the middle
school softball program.
“I am really surprised to be coach-
ing tennis,” Watters said. “They told
me they needed a coach and asked
me if I would do it.”
She has no regrets. The players are
buying in and have the right attitude,
ROBERT LAYMAN / STAFF PHOTO
Andres Aguilar hits the ball during tennis practice at White Memorial Park in Rutland.
she said.
“They are excited and they have
some skills,” Watters said.
A goal of hers is to build the
program so that the Otters will not
have to forfeit matches and be in
a precarious situation in the event
of injuries in the future. One of
her methods will be to have middle
school tennis players practice with the
NOTES: There is a state championship
drought in Rutland, but there is also
a proud history. The Rutland High
boys program has been to fi ve state
fi nals but the Raiders have only come
home with the title once, in 1986. The
Rutland High girls program won state
crowns in 1977 and 1981. ... The MSJ
boys have never been to a state tennis
fi nal but the Mounties have quite a
résumé on the girls side, winning state
championships in 1987 and 1989 and
then winning it three straight years,
1992-1994. ... This year’s state fi nals
are slated for June 6-8. ... Megan
Nadler, who played for Haskell at
Rutland, is now the No. 1 singles
player at Castleton University. She will
be helping Purdy with the RHS boys
team this spring.
[email protected]
SCREEN PRINTING - EMBROIDERY - SPORTING GOODS
Supporting Our
Local Teams
155 Seward Road
Rutland, VT
800-639-6141