The former head coach took a last-second leave, but fortunately there was an assistant on staff that knew the ropes.
Durango High School opened the girls tennis season behind Dave Weisfeldt, the 16-year veteran who resigned from the head coaching post in 2012. But when Laura Ehlers recently stepped down, Weisfeldt stepped up.
“So far, it’s been a lot of fun,” Weisfeldt said Thursday, even after the Demons’ 7-0 loss to Steamboat Springs at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction. “The girls are working really hard, so it’s been low stress.”
Steamboat Springs was as expected in the Demons’ spring opener.
“We always expect top tennis from them,” Weisfeldt said.
Steamboat Springs didn’t drop a set all day.
Elle Bender defeated Kit Hackett 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
Kira Lorenzen defeated Hackett’s younger sister, DHS freshman Maggie Hackett, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
“It was great to see her play,” Weisfeldt said. “Stepping into a No. 2 singles match in your first match can be daunting, but she handled it with a lot of poise and focus.”
Maddie Laboe beat Hannah Liberman 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Hannah Hagerty and Emi Thompson beat Emma Hagen and Audrey Morris 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) at No. 1 doubles, the first Demons to at least force a tiebreaker.
“We got within striking distance,” Weisfeldt said.
Sabina Berend and Maddie Thompson beat Rachel Cooper and Eva Eckstein 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.
Sydney Boyd and Lili Petersen beat DHS newcomers Ruby DeKay and Elli Gervais 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Shannon Ross and Jessie Selby beat DHS newcomers Jenna Engelken and Hailee Pritchard 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 doubles.
“They were a blast to watch,” Weisfeldt said of his 3- and 4-doubles pairs. “Just the experience of finally getting a competitive match; they were doing great stuff. For being new to tennis, it’s sometimes hard to keep the nerves down, but they did great.”
Durango will face more stiff competition at the Western Slope Open this weekend at Canyon View Park.
“It’s big-time tennis on the Western Slope,” Weisfeldt said. “But that’s fine. We’re in experience-gathering mode right now. This will help us come up with a gameplan for the rest of the season.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
