2020 brings new era to MC tennis

As spring approaches on MC’s campus, along comes a new era of excellence in Scots tennis. This year’s tennis team brings a new wave of youth, discipline and focus as they look to contend among the elite USA south conference. It looks like a promising new year and decade on the courts for the MC Scots.

On the women’s side, the Scots look to build off of last spring, where they posted an impressive record of 8-9 (5-3 in conference play). Despite the loss of star senior, Savannah Bain,a USA South All-Conference player, the Scots have brought back elite talent.

Senior Savannah Mantooth of Winchester, Tenn. looks to lead the squad as a veteran. Mantooth was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship team last spring. The Scots are also returning with a one-two punch of juniors: Kayla Zimmerman from Knoxville, Tenn. and Anya Dunn from Carrollton, Ga. Dunn and Zimmerman went 9-6 last year in doubles play and are together primed to become a weapon for the Scots this season.

Most exciting, however, are the additions of three new freshman athletes, Melanie Kowalweski from Redondo, Calif., Eliza Cheshire from Nashville, Tenn., and Carolyne Koellafrom Maryville, Tenn. These three rookies bring talent to the program from all over the country, and each will see time on the court this season.

The Scots went 2-0 in fall matches, edging out a victory over Emory & Henry 5-4 and embarrassing Johnson University Tennessee with a 9-0 win. With an undefeated start, things are looking up for Coach Dunn’s team.

The roster carries elite talent from top to bottom, and the team looks like it will be a sneaky contender for the USA South Crown. Cheer on our MC Scots as they take on USA South foe Covenant College to kick off their 2020 campaign on Feb. 28 in Lookout Mountain, Ga.

The men’s tennis team will be charging into 2020 with a wave of momentum behind them after earning their first victory since April 10, 2018, when they defeated Johnson University Tennessee, 6-3. Two years later, the long drought ended right where it started after the revamped Scots team defeated Johnson University Tennessee, by a score of 6-3.

The men’s roster has been reloaded from top to bottom. Junior Austin Smith from Lafayette, Tenn. returns to the squad alongside junior Caleb Underdown from Athens, Tenn. Together, they will use their experience to develop a powerful nucleus of freshmen. Their maturity and leadership will be key components in making this young team a dominant one.

One of the new boys on the block is junior Milligan College transfer student John Fisher from Chattanooga, Tenn. Fisher is a nasty southpaw who will be making his NCAA debut this spring after having two years of success at Milligan and in the NAIA.

Along with the veterans comes a two-headed monster in freshmen, Kyle Shaver from Dayton, Tenn. and Matthew Jackson from Dickson, Tenn. These two Tennessee natives are hardworking, dynamic talents who are equally as skilled in the classroom as they are on the court. Not to mention—after playing both of these dudes in ping pong—it’s clear they are the real deal.

This young team will work to bring on a new dynasty to MC tennis. Gone are the winless seasons and struggling times, here comes the new era. Other USA South members might want to schedule dentist appointments now because a punch in the jaw is coming from this revitalized team.

The Scots take on Covenant College on Feb. 28 at 4:00 p.m., where they look to avenge two losses from last year. Come support our Scots home opener on Saturday, Feb. 29, where the team will take on Virginia-Wise in Maryville, Tenn.

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