A mixture of old and new

New coach and several newcomers: 2 top returners back

Kathryn Gustafson of the Del Norte girls tennis team, above, is the returning No. 1 singles player for the Warriors. She and Sam Bausch won the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference doubles championship last year and finished fourth at the Northcoast Section Division II championships. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Seniors Kathryn Gustafson and Sam Bausch won the No.1 doubles title at the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference Championships last year.

The pair proceeded to win a match at the  Northcoast Section Division II Doubles Championships and finished in fourth place.

The Warriors squad is being coached by Sara Miller, who was head coach of the boys team last spring and plans to coach both boys and girls tennis this year.

She coached the girls team for a year in 2006 and played tennis at Del Norte High, graduating in 2000. Miller won the HDN singles title as a junior and the doubles title along with Leah Scott as a senior

“It’s nice to come back and coach the team,” she said. “It’s going well. It’s a way for me to give back to the community.”

Miller is currently an 8th grade science teacher at Crescent Elk

“It’s nice to have someone who has been there before and is helping us to improve,” Gustafson said about her new coach.

It’s great to have two veterans return in Gustafson and Bausch in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles slots, and of course in doubles, Miller said. There are two other single starters returning along with a fair share of newcomers.

Miller said that it’s quite nice to have a number of newcomers come out, including  four seniors who decided to try tennis for the first time, and to have veterans like Gustafson and Bausch assist them.

“They have been great leaders for the team and have helped the newcomers,” she said.

A number of the new seniors joined because they are friends with both Gustafson and Bausch, who encouraged them to join, Miller said.

Miller is hopeful that Gustafson can win the No. 1 singles title, after making it to the title match last year.

Gustafson said that while a singles title is a goal of hers to be sure, she is a bit mixed about it at the same time because she enjoys playing with Bausch in doubles. If she wins the singles title she can not compete in the HDN doubles championship.

While it would be a major accomplishment to win a singles title as a senior, if she doesn’t and wins another HDN doubles crown instead, it would be “Win, win. Whatever happens, happens,” she said. “We know we can do better this year.”

At No. 3 in singles, Miler said it looks like true freshman Jordan Babich will take the spot. While new to the sport, she has displayed great potential and athletic ability and expects her to contribute this year.

At No. 4,  junior Taylor Cleland, who won the No. 6 seed HDN title in 2010, fills that spot. At No. 5 will be returning senior Riley Sheets and at No. 6 is freshman Alexis Wright.

While Arcata will certainly be tough again this year as it has been for years, Miller believes the team has a chance to do well in the league and is excited to get the season going.

Del Norte opened the season on Friday  night at a tournament in Redding, which will conclude on Saturday. Results were not available by deadline.

On Tuesday, the team opens the HDN season against Arcata at home. The matches begin at 4 p.m. at the tennis courts at the high school.