The Panther Tennis team is looking to make up for lost time on the court. The 2020 season was shut down prematurely due to COVID-19; the Panthers were only able to complete four matches before the season was cancelled.
“Our student-athletes, coaching staff, and parents were all disappointed when the season was cancelled last year,” commented Coach Broussard. “The program is excited that we are back on the courts.”
The Woodlawn Tennis program began practicing for the 2021 season in early January. For the third consecutive year, practices are being held at Southern Oaks Athletic Club. SOAC’s Director of Tennis, Luke Richardson, returns for his third year as Assistant Coach.
The Panthers will once again lean on Leah Medine to lead the program. Leah, now a senior, has been a part of the program since its rebirth in 2018. Leah advanced to the Regional Finals as a freshman, and was the Regional Champion as a sophomore. She was a State Quarterfinalist each of those years.
For the first time in her high school career, Leah is expected to play doubles with her twin sister, Halle. Halle has experience playing doubles; she and her partner, Elsa Pearce, were ranked second in the 2019 Regionals.
Senior Christian Jones also brings experience and enthusiasm to the program as she enters her third year of tennis.
Cameron Lindsay prepares for a point at the 2019 Regional Tournament.
Junior Cameron Lindsay will be the most experienced player on the boys’ side. Cameron qualified for the 2019 State Tournament as a freshman with his partner, Jacob Barnes.
Juniors Mason Watson, Jamarion Johnson, and Devin Trim all enter their third season with the Panthers. These three Panthers look to continue to improve their tennis abilities each match.
Woodlawn will also look for contributions from several newcomers. Sophomores Katelyn Fontenot and Julie Russell each participated in last year’s shortened season and look to continue to improve their game. Freshman Miriam Lindsay comes from a tennis family and brings experience to the team. Sophomore Maxwell Bayles has also shown flashes of promise at practice.
Matches for the Panthers will begin on February 8th versus Central High School. Matches will continue through April, with Regionals the week of April 19th and the State Tournament the week of April 25th. Since 2018, the Panthers have improved on the number of State Qualifiers each year. This year looks to be no different, as expectations continue to increase.
While matches are a big part of the tennis season, the Woodlawn Tennis Program has always focused on providing a fun atmosphere where the student-athletes have positive experiences while playing tennis.
The program also stresses academics. The program boasts a Fall Semester GPA of 3.85, and 100% of the student-athletes who participate in tennis also take Advanced Level courses at Woodlawn High. Students interested in participating in tennis are encouraged to see Coach Broussard or contact him via email.
