Lady Bucks netters poised to defend their crown in 2023
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Bucktail tennis captured the program’s first ever Mid Penn Conference title a season ago and advanced to the District Four 2A semifinals, but this year’s squad is focused on advancing even further. Bucktail went an incredible 18-2 and only suffered losses to both 2A finalists in Jersey Shore and Hughesville.
It was a successful season for the Lady Bucks, which also saw coach Allison Heiser named Mid Penn Coach of the Year and two Lady Bucks named to the MPC first team all-stars. Those players, Kayla Probert and Bella English have since graduated. A strong returning class and some key newcomers should keep the program going strong as they look to defend their conference championship and potentially advance deeper in the playoffs.
Seniors Alexis Lowery, Giada DeMarte and Gigi Balchun all return to the Lady Bucks lineup and returning senior Mak Wagner is set to come back to the program after not participating during her sophomore and junior seasons. Wagner was a starter during her freshman season on the team.
Underclassmen returners include three sophomores in Eva Sockman, McKenna Bissman and Kendall Wagner. All three saw significant time in the Lady Bucks lineup a season ago.
Newcomers Willow Kitchen and Riley Salizonni are expected to work their way into the lineup during the course of the season as well. Salizonni is the only freshman on the squad.
Bucktail’s success within district play will rely heavily on their ability to handle Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference squads in the postseason. Their only two losses were to PHAC schools, including a loss to Hughesville in the playoffs.
The Mid Penn Conference provided little challenge for Bucktail last season and their nonconference slate against a weaker NTL schedule didn’t help matters, but a late season match against Jersey Shore was added to their schedule later in the season to help them prepare better for the playoffs. The Lady Bulldogs are not on the 2023 schedule.
The Lady Bucks open regular season at home against Wellsboro on Friday and will then be at home against NP-Liberty on Tuesday, August 29 before their first road trip on Thursday, August 31 when they will travel to Westfield to meet Cowanesque Valley.
On September 5, Bucktail will begin their quest to defend their Mid Penn Conference title when they travel to Muncy.
“I feel very good about this team. We graduated four seniors from last year’s roster, this included our number one and number three singles players. Even with these losses, the girls have all come into the season determined to work hard and improve as tennis players. We are still going to be a very competitive team,” said coach Allison Heiser of her 2023 squad.
