The East Central Community College Warrior tennis team is ready to hit the courts in 2022 with a deep roster of talented players and four returning sophomores.
"I feel like we are for sure a top program as we look to compete for the MACC and Region 23 titles," said seventh-year ECCC head coach Jay Pacelli. "Our guys have all been working hard since the fall, and now it's just about putting the right pieces in the right places."
The Warriors have some big shoes to fill at the top of the roster after losing No. 1 and No. 2 players Chris Lawrance and Isaac Santitto to graduation a year ago, but the Warriors are ready for the challenge.
The team looks to be balanced in both doubles and singles play, but Pacelli hopes doubles will be a strength in the 2022 campaign.
"Our doubles play has a great chance of being very good this year," said the New Jersey native. "We some guys that understand doubles tennis and hope to get us some points early in the matches. In singles play, we have some true warriors that will grid for every point, attack the net, and play very assertively."
The Warriors roster is loaded from the top down with 11 players in all.
Sophomore players include Garrett Crimm (Mathiston), a leader that has grown into a powerful singles player as he continues to get more and more experience on the court, Ian Gordon (Vicksburg), a solid net player with great instincts, Steed Springfield (Vicksburg), a player who has developed into an all-around player that can move to all parts of the court, and Samuel Turner (Mathiston), who provides tremendous leadership on the doubles courts with his determined play.
"All four of these guys have a great work ethic and know what it takes to be successful in this conference," said Pacelli. "They will be leaders on the court, and I appreciate that they are all serious players that are all business on the practice courts as they lead by example for our freshmen."
Joining the sophomores is a talented lineup of freshmen that includes two international players.
Joseph Fletcher (Selby, United Kingdom) is a hard-hitting, power lefty that has a strong game from all parts of the court, while Dominik Simunovic (Zagreb, Croatia) brings firey play as he is determined to battle for every point.
Orren Ladner (Perkinston) is a big forehand player that looks to make an impact on the roster, while Zander Meeks (Lawrance) looks to put balls away at the net and utilize his air game. Kaleb Parish (Mathiston) is a powerful right-handed guy that can put balls away, Luke Sanders (Forest) is a gritty lefty that will fight for every point on the court, and Coltin Taylor (Waynesboro) is an even-keeled player that can place his forehand on all parts of the court.
"I think our guys are going to be very competitive at nearly every line in both doubles and singles play," said Pacelli. "I'm very proud of each of these 11 young men on where they have brought their game and excited to see them take into the season."
ECCC opens the season this Friday, January 28 with a home match against Northeast Mississippi Community College at 2 p.m. in Decatur and rounds out the regular season on April 14. Postseason play will take place at the top men's team facility and will feature the top six teams battling for the MACCC/Region 23 title. The top three finishers of that event qualify for the NJCAA National Championship.
To see the complete 2022 ECCC men's tennis schedule, click here.