New coach excited to watch players develop

BY BRADY DANIELS
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

Martin County High School boys and girls tennis teams are loaded with youth and a high ceiling.

This season, MC has a new coach in Justin Penix, who served as an assistant coach for the past four years.

Penix is fielding the largest tennis teams ever.

“I am most of all excited to have the turnout we have this year,” Penix said. “Tennis has always struggled to maintain numbers compared to other schools in the region. This year we are loaded with youth and hopefully, grow and develop these kids into regional contenders.”

Martin County returns four veterans from last year’s teams as Austin Washburn and Cory Jarrell are back for the boys and Kennedy Mills and Tori Crum for the girls.

The remaining team members are either freshmen or sophomores — and all first-time players.

New additions to the boys’ team include Max Johnson, BJ Parsley, Levi Howell, Caleb Horn, Brayden Cook and William Daniels.

Girls’ newcomers are Alyssa Allen, Aaliyah Cline, Katie Maynard, Caitlyn Horn, Tamara Workman, Lexi Sammons, Emma Gulley, Dakota Ward, Grace Caldwell and Zoe Chevalier.

“We are a very young team with a high ceiling,” said Penix. “I am excited to see how these kids improve over the season.”

They got their first experience Friday at Johnson Central and came up short against a veteran-heavy Johnson Central. Both boys and girls lost 8-1.

The Lady Cardinals had a doubles win. No. 2 seed Caitlyn Horn and Tamara Workman defeated Johnson Central’s Lakin Bentley and Peyton Conley 6-0 for their first win of the season.

The Cardinals also came away with a doubles win. No. 3 seed BJ Parsley and Brayden Cook defeated Golden Eagles David Sammons and Simon Thach 6-0.

Horn, Workman, Parsley and Cook are among the long list of young first-year players with high expectations.

“I’m eager to watch many who have great potential,” said Penix.

Martin County will hit the home court Thursday to take on the Hornets of Magoffin County before going on the road Friday to Raceland for a matchup with the Rams.