CM Boys Tennis: New Faces Abound

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — There is no gift from abroad this year for the Central Mountain boys’ tennis program so coach Pete Wert is going to have to rely on homegrown talent and most of that is inexperienced.

A season ago the Wildcat program benefited from an exchange student, Thomas Hulet from Belgium, but he is gone along with two veterans from a year ago in the graduated Zach High and Seth Wert.

So it’s back to the drawing board for the program, coach Wert working with a squad of 15, all underclassmen but one. Two letter-winners do return in juniors Kline Williams and Tanner Poff.

Others pushing for playing time include Andrew Petruzzi, Ryan Moore, Quentin Falls and Jack Miller.

The Wildcats will be competing in the District 4-oriented Heartland Conference and Wert said much is unknown about some of the new opponents his squad will be meeting. He noted Central Mountain has competed in the past with several holdovers from District 4 in Jersey Shore, Williamsport and Selinsgrove, achieving what he termed “moderate” success.

Because of severe weather for much of March, the Wildcats were late in getting on the courts at the Gibson Tennis Complex and several early season matches have been postponed. Central Mountain was to visit Shikellamy on Wednesday of this week, home with Jersey Shore next Monday.