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SHS tennis gets its top gun back

ADAM BOFFEYSUMMIT DAILY NEWS
Summit Daily/Kristin Skvorc
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BRECKENRIDGE Sutton Anderson has come a long way since the last time she played a tennis match for Summit High School. After spending a year at a Southern California tennis academy, Anderson has returned home to captain the Lady Tigers in her senior season.Anderson, who played in the No. 1 position for Summit as both a freshman and a sophomore, spent her junior year at Weil Tennis Academy in Ojai, Calif.The Summit standout said she transferred between schools to improve her game and expand her horizons.I wanted to play college tennis and I couldnt do it here, Anderson said. Southern California is one of the toughest regions in the country.Anderson said her experience at Weil was helpful to her development as a player. Still, when the school year was over, she felt an undeniable calling to come back to Summit High.I wanted to graduate with all the people I grew up with, she said. And I play better when I have fun doing it; there was much more pressure there (at Weil) and not as much fun.Anderson played four hours of tennis each day against some of the worlds top junior players during her time at Weil. She said the high quality of play made for an intense atmosphere.The competition was better then I had ever seen before, she said. I was taken aback … It was frustrating, I lost more than I had ever lost before.Andersons hiatus from the Tigers provided her with some of the attention she was seeking as she now has collegiate offers from Denver University and the University of Redlands, a Division 3 school in Southern California.Summit coach Rae Anderson, who is Suttons mother, said her daughters return to Summits team has been a positive development for everyone involved. Sutton being back gives everybody something to strive for, coach Anderson said. Yesterday, a couple of the JV girls were saying, Wow, I see how hard I have to work and how much she has had to play to get to that point. Shes a good role model.Sutton Anderson has reclaimed her No. 1 singles position for the Lady Tigers, who begin match play today against Bishop Machebeuf. Carly Walsh and Alex Critz-Culp, who played No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, as Summit freshmen last season, will move down to the No. 2 and 3 spots to make room for the senior captain. Walsh does not seem to mind.If I lost to someone that I had beaten last year, it would be different, Walsh said. But Sutton is good competition to lose to. She deserves it.According to Rae Anderson, the seeding change will likely benefit her singles players.They (Carly and Alex) should have incredible years in those positions, the coach said. Its time for them to shine; I wouldnt be surprised if I took both of them to state.Sending two or three players to state would be a huge improvement for the Lady Tigers, who failed to send a single representative to last years state meet.Coach Anderson is also excited about her core of young doubles players. Playing No. 1 doubles for the Lady Tigers will be Megan Hollenbeck and Kali Turrin. Mandy Miles and Tessa Manton will play No. 2 doubles; Megan Hartman and Tiana Shelton will play No. 3; and Jodi Houghtaling and Holly Westwood will play No. 4 doubles. Marie Oberriter, Carrie George, Cissy Daniels and Kimmy Baker are Summit’s current bubble players. In addition to relying on her daughter and a strong core of returnees for Summits success, coach Anderson will be counting on Dave Turrin, her first-year assistant coach.Turrin, a 20-year member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and former instructor at the Breckenridge Recreation Center, brings a wealth of teaching experience to Summits program.Dave is a truly certified instructor, Rae Anderson said. Im hoping he can take our team to a whole new level.Anderson also said this will be her final season of coaching Summit High tennis after six years at the helm.I had committed to coach until Sutton finished high school, she said. Im set to retire at the end of the season.Adam Boffey can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13631, or at aboffey@summitdaily.com.


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