By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Coach Ron Chamberlain is pleased with his numbers and has experienced players returning, which he believes is a recipe for a competitive season in 2026 season.
"I’m very pleased with our numbers," he said. "We currently have 10 qualified players, with two more who will qualify for play within the next week, and possibly one or two more late arrivals
"We also have more interest in the girls’ team for the fall sports season.
"We have seen a growing interest in tennis at Waverly these last two seasons, so we have some momentum behind the program," said Chamberlain. "I plan on continuing to recruit for future seasons and grow our program to the level we see with some of the other STAC schools in our division who tend to have 13 to 18 players.
"I expect us to be more competitive with the experience the guys got last season and, hopefully, return the team to a winning record," he noted.
"We went 3-7 last season, which was an improvement, but they have grown as players since and that should translate to more matches won in singles and doubles play," said Chamberlain. "That should translate to more dual matches won for the team.
"Our team goal is to return to a winning season record like we had in 2023 (6-3) in the IAC," he added.
The Wolverines return eight players from 2025, including five seniors in Nate McEwen, Logan Roskow, Nate Kellogg, Finn Williams, and Dakota French. Also returning are sophomores Kamden Sorensen, Owen Fassett, and Jaiden Heinzelman.
"We are blessed to have some depth and experience this season, with eight returning players," said Chamberlain. "One of those key returners from last season is senior Nate McEwen, who is starting his third season with the team.
"I expect our core group of seniors, Logan Roskow), Nate (McEwen), Nate (Kellogg), and Finn (Williams) to raise the level of play of our team this season," he noted. "Each one of them brings something different to the team and it spreads to the other players.
"Logan has really been working on his serve, for example, and that success focuses the others to work on their fundamentals," added Chamberlain. "I’ve seen improvement from each one of them with their service game as a result."
Waverly will have four newcomers on the roster this season in senior German foreign exchange student Tammo Bruns, juniors Collin Wheeler and Trent VanDyke, and sophomore Alvin Gao.
"All four first-year players have been making great strides in their play," said Chamberlain. "It helps that they have been matching up with the more experienced players from previous seasons.
"The season looks bright for us," he added.
Chamberlain, in his third year at the helm of the tennis program, is looking beyond the varsity team to build the program.
"We have managed to field a modified team this season after not having one last year," he said. "Amanda Minaker will start coaching the five players we have signed up from the middle school this week, and, hopefully we will pick up a couple more as we go.
"We have also been entertaining a recreation program of some sort for over the summer, but the plans are still in their infancy," Chamberlain added.
Overall, Chamberlain is pleased with what he's seen during preseason practices.
"The guys have been having fun and challenging themselves during our practices. That is the whole point of athletics. Having fun and improving at the same time."
Waverly is scheduled to open the 2026 season at Chenango Valley Monday evening.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Nate McEwen. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
