Three meets in, Bronco boys tennis team gets set for big Vernal trip

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School boys tennis team has battled hard in their first three meets of the season. The team is still looking for their first win but they are improving steadily and did win two matches in their most recent meet with Gunnison on Thursday, April 11.
The first doubles team of Boston Bowers and Wyatt Keith defeated Gunnison’s Hunter Goble and Sawyer Christiansen 6-1 and 6-1.
In the second doubles match Sawyer Tomco and Oren Bradford took down Grady Anderson and A.J. Roberts 6-0 and 6-0. Unfortunately the doubles wins couldn’t overcome three losses in the singles matches and the Broncos lost the meet 3-2
In the first meet of the season in Moab April 3 Grand County defeated San Juan 5-0. South Sevier beat the Broncos 5-0 in the other meet that took place in Blanding this past Thursday.
San Juan Head Coach Casey Olsen, who is now in just his second year at the helm, says it has been truly remarkable to see the improvement in many of his players since last season.
“We started practicing in early March,” he stated, “and have been seeing a lot of progress in our boys. Michelle Bradford is my assistant coach this year.
“She has experience playing tennis and helps coach the girls team. She has made a huge difference for us, teaching new skills and practices that are paying off with our players.
“We have Denim Howell, Noah Olsen, and Spencer Gosney playing singles this season. Evan and Wyatt Keith, Boston Bowers, Oren Bradford, Sawyer Tomco, and Max Russell are playing doubles.
“We have several freshmen and they have improved a lot since we started. The returning players have improved greatly since last year.”
The Broncos are back on the court with a weekend trip this Friday and Saturday, April 19-20 to play in the Uintah Invitational in Vernal, UT.