—Messenger photos by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond girls tennis returning letterwinners for 2021 are (left to right): Sydney Engels and Leah Neverman.

The St. Edmond girls tennis program will be under new leadership this spring, as Shawn Neverman takes over as head coach.

Neverman, who served as the assistant girls basketball coach in the winter, has a roster of 11 girls to work with.

“This is my first year coaching tennis, but I’m looking to teach through the basics,” Neverman said. “We’re working on the fundamentals to get the girls confidence here early on, but we have some that are further advanced and ready to go.”

Seniors Sydney Engels, Leah Neverman and Kaleigh Smith lead the way with juniors Lilly Kolacia, Katelyn Adson and Marlo Lochray. Sophomores Katie Flaherty, Anna Kolacia, Lillian Shin and Ashlyn Headlee are joined by freshman Emma Barwin to complete the roster.

Engels and Neverman have plenty of experience in other sports and have been on the team for the past few seasons along with Adson, Lilly Kolacia, Lochray and Smith.

“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to coach this team and work with these girls,” Neverman said. “I think that with the good core of returning players we have, mixed in with some promising first-year ones, we have a chance to surprise people.

“But it’s really about having fun and getting them to enjoy the game.”

St. Edmond will host its first three meetings, including the season opener on April 12 vs. Storm Lake. Regionals take place in May.

2021 ST. EDMOND GIRLS TENNIS

Roster

Seniors — Sydney Engels, Leah Neverman, Kayleigh Smith.

Juniors — Lilly Kolacia, Katelyn Adson, Marlo Lochray.

Sophomores — Katie Flaherty, Anna Kolacia, Lilian Shin, Ashlyn Headlee.

Freshman — Emma Barwin.

Schedule

April 12 — Storm Lake; 13 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 16 — South Hardin; 19 — at Clear Lake; 26 — Carroll Kuemper; 30 — Grundy Center.

May 6 — at Webster City; 13 — Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 15 — regionals; 17 — Webster City.