tennis

The Batavia High School Boys Tennis Team beat Honeoye Falls-Lima today, 6-1.

Head Coach John Kirkwood thinks this team will be notching quite a few more wins this season.

"I see us going very deep in sectionals and I see us representing very well in the Class B  tournament as we've done the past three or four years," Lockwood said.

Batavia is now 1-1 in Monroe County league play and 1-0 in its division.

In this early part of this season, with all the bad weather, Lockwood is letting his younger guys play a few more matches so they can gain some experience before the team heads into a tougher part of the schedule.

"That helps young guys develop and that will pay dividends for us down the road," Lockwood said.

The top three singles players are Nate Palmer, Jeff Redband and Samir Jain.

Palmer hasn't played yet this year, but Redband and Jain are off to good starts. Today, the two sophomores won their matches easily, 6-0 and 6-0 for Redband over Max Wilkinson, and Jain beat Leo Orsini 6-0, 6-1.

"We've got one of the tougher schedules we've had in five or six years," Lockwood said.
"We picked up Fairport. We picked up Webster-Schroeder. We've picked up the top programs for our top three or four guys. We need to make sure we had the best teams on our schedule for them to develop."

Advancing in sectionals will take a couple of the younger guys stepping forward and forming a strong doubles tandem.

Palmer, Redband and Jain are all candidates to go deep in singles play when sectionals arrive, Lockwood said, if not make it to state qualifiers.

Also today, Ken McMaster won over Alex Lazarus-Hall 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles, Tim Martin and Jon McMaster defeated Brett Peters and Garrett Fletcher 6-1, 6-0; Avery Midla and Caleb Jackson defeated Joe Moore and Ed Schauber 6-0, 6-0; and
David Knaudt and Ross Chua lost to Austin Ainsworth and Josh Geary 6-0, 6-0.

To purchase photos from today's match, click here.

Coming off a league championship, the Batavia High girls tennis team has been moved up to a tougher division this year, but coach Kevin Walkowski is OK with that.

"They’re recognize that we have a strong program," Walkowski said. "The only way you’re going to get better as a player and a team is to play against the best."

Yesterday, the ladies team beat Greece Arcadia/Olympia.

Walkowski likes the makeup of his team this year. It's filled with talented young women who love the game, he said.

The number one singles player is Amy Schmidt (Photo: inset, left), who beat Dana Starr 6-1, 6-2, Friday. Walkowski said Schmidt is an intense, competitive player.

"She’s got the big heart and refuses to give up," Walkowski said. "I remember when she first started out it was keep your feet moving, keep your feet moving and wear out your opponents. Now she’s talking strategy."

On the number two court is Michelle Richenburg (top photo). Walkowski said she is a "technically sound player." Richenburg beat Paige Olscamp 6-0, 6-0.

The team this year also features an exchange student from Germany, Lisa Farkinghoff (bottom photo before the jump). Farkinghoff beat Morgan Boyce 6-1, 6-4.

"She comes to us with a clay court game," said Walkowski. "She has all the cuts and slices, so we’re trying to get her to hit a little harder. If we get her to turn around she will make a difference for us in the sectionals."

Walkowski also praised Nicole Guilds, who transferred from Notre Dame two years ago. Guilds' strength is doubles, Walkowski said, but she also really enjoys singles. In singles Friday, Guilds beat Kim Hull 6-1, 6-0.

Batavia's fifth win Friday was a doubles match, with Maryssa Peirick and Robin Clemm over Lauran Caulkins and Kaylee Rizzari 6-2, 6-2.

More pictures after the jump: