Sports Editor
CARIBOU — Looking to improve on last season’s semifinal exit in the postseason, the Caribou boys tennis team has set high hopes for the upcoming year. John Habeeb, who is second only to coach track coach Roy Alden in terms of time served as a Vikings coach, returns for his 23rd season with the Vikings tennis program. Once again this spring, Habeeb has the daunting task of coaching both the boys and girls tennis teams.
Caribou finished 6-8 last a year ago, but still qualified for the playoffs. The Vikings advanced to the semifinal round before falling to John Bapst.
“Our team will have to work hard in order to make the playoffs this year as our competition is steep,” he said. “We have a lot of first-year players, but our returning players have worked hard over the summer.”
Members of the 2010 Vikings are seniors Nick Willey and Jon Ouellette; juniors Matt Coty, Ezra Duplissie-Cyr and Phil Smith; and freshmen Tyler Willey, Lucien Caverhill, Zachary Gorence, Jacob Plavnick and Brennan Duy.
The returning players are Nick Willey, Coty, Smith and Duplissie-Cyr.
Unlike the girls team, player rankings are not yet decided, according to the coach.
Nick Willey was third singles last year and should make the big leap to first singles this year. Coty, Duplissie-Cyr, Ouellette and Smith will all be fighting for the remaining two singles spots.
“Nick is a steady player and has learned a lot in his summer job as a tennis instructor for the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department,” coach Habeeb said. “Phil plays with the most spin and has a powerful forehand. Ezra is good all-around and is very competitive. Matt plays well from the baseline and has some dependable shots. Jon is a first-year tennis player and a senior and shows some promise and at this point looks like a starter as he is athletic and a quick learner.”
Gorence, Tyler Willey, Plavnick and Duy played for the middle school last year and should improve rapidly this year.
“The non-singles players will make up the first doubles and probably a pair of freshman will make up our second doubles team,” Habeeb said.
Because of the mild spring, the Vikings did not have to travel to travel as much this year for preseason practices. In the past, Caribou traveled to Madawaska to use indoor courts for tryouts.
“We would spend two hours on a bus up and back for a one-and-a-half hour practice several times during the week,” Habeeb said.
“Our preparations for the season have been different as the weather has been very cooperative,” Habeeb said. “Only one week was spent indoors at the middle school for dry practices. We have all four courts going at the park and this is the earliest these four courts have been available since I have been coaching. Usually, we only have two courts going before April break.”
The Vikings will also have new tennis courts, located behind the high school to host their matches. Both the boys and girls tennis teams will head to Windham during April vacation, before their first regular season matches.
Caribou opens its season Saturday in Bangor against John Bapst).
