The Bridgeport High School tennis team has started off the season with two new coaches and a 2-0 record for both boys and girls.

In their opening week, the Indians faced and triumped over Notre Dame (March 19) and Williamstown (March 20).

 

Coaching the Tribe for the 2019 season is Diana Noone and John Ebert.

 

Noone said she looks forward to an exciting, yet interesting season. On the girls’ side – all but one player from last year’s state Class AA third-place team is back for 2019. The boys’ side, however, features a whole new roster.

 

Seeded No. 1 in girls’ singles is senior Grace Ebert. In line 2 is sophomore Virginia Noone, who placed first in Class AA line four singles at the 2018 state tennis championship. In the third spot is senior Eleanor Noone and the fourth spot is junior Sophia Gorby.

 

Ebert and Virginia Noone are teaming up for line 1 doubles, Eleanor Noone and Gorby will play line 2 doubles and sophomores Anna DuVall and Chloe Stears will play line 3 doubles.

 

“The girls should be very strong. We only lost one seeded player from last year, Rachel Lamm, but all others are back and we are deep this year,” Diane Noone said.

 

With the exception of sophomore Luke Pinti, the Tribe’s seeded boys are new. Seeded first in singles is freshman Ty Gande.

 

“Ty is fantastic. He’s been playing for years on the USTA tour with great success,” Noone said.

 

Playing line 2 singles is junior Patrick Reneau, who transferred to BHS this year from Grafton. Pinti, who was on the roster last year, but not seeded, is playing line 3 singles. A Tribe swimmer, Pinti is one of the “crossover” players, who play other sports for BHS. Senior Sam Stauffer of the Indian soccer team is seeded fourth in singles.

 

For boys’ doubles, the coaches mixed it up. Gande and senior Tristan Nolte, also a soccer player, team up for line 1. Stauffer and senior Aaron Randolph, of the BHS basketball team, will play line 2 doubles. In line 3 doubles, senior Broc Oliverio of the Indian soccer team and junior Trevor Pandher of the Tribe golf team will alternate play with junior Phillip Malenich, member of the Class AA state champion BHS boys’ swim team.

 

“Ty Gande is going to be exciting to watch this year. He has incredible talent and the ‘crossover’ boys who came out for tennis for the first time, are very athletic and doing very well. I wouldn’t underestimate them. So far, both girls and boys are undefeated and Moorefield was an excellent team. We’re looking forward to a great season.”

 

Noone said about 35 went out for this year’s tennis team, which consists of 12 girls and 12 boys. Grace Ebert and Eleanor Noone serve as team captains.  

 

The team was scheduled to play Fairmont Senior Monday, but that match was cancelled. Coming up tonight is a match against Robert C. Byrd and Thursday against Liberty. Both those matches will be played at the Indians’ home court at Deegan Lake. Both matches begin at 4:30 p.m. The Indians will travel to Moorefield Friday for a 4:30 p.m. match.

 

Editor's Note: Photos of Virginia Noone (top) and Grace Ebert were taken by Ben Queen Photography during the 2018 BHS tennis season.