The Dowagiac boys tennis program has had its difficulties attracting players the past few years.

In fact, five years ago the Chieftains did not even field a team after qualifying for the state finals the year prior to that.

Dowagiac is on its third coach in four years as Andi Smallbone takes over the program after guiding the Chieftain girls tennis team last spring.

Smallbone only has eight players as Dowagiac has nearly completed a quarter of its schedule already. She will continue to try to find more players, but at this stage of the season, it is already time to think about next year.

As a result of a lack of numbers, Dowagiac goes into each of its matches trailing 3-0 due to forfeits. So plans are to try to improve each of the eight players on the team as individuals and prepare for the post season.

“It’s been hard,” Smallbone said during the Chieftains’ match against Berrien Springs Tuesday morning, a match it would end up losing 6-2. “We tried to recruit friends and such, but me not knowing who had interest and things like that it was tough.”

Smallbone set up a summer tennis camp, which she plans to continue in hopes of attracting new players, especially middle school prospects.

“Hopefully we can get the attention of some middle school players from that,” she said. “The problem is, I do not know if they even teach tennis (at the middle school). The kids have it in sixth grade, but by seventh and eighth grade they have totally forgotten what they learned in gym.”

Dowagiac is holding freshmen orientation Friday, but Smallbone feels that is too late to pick up players who can help this season. But that does not mean she will not be looking to get some more potential prospects once school gets under way.

Until then, she is focusing on the team she has.

“We have got those four seniors and we have just made it about them,” Smallbone said. “I made it an individual sport. I told them they do not have to worry about what the team is doing. This is an individual sport at this point because we come into every match three down.”

Dowagiac picked up a freshman, Kyler Kinyon, who was thrown into the mix Tuesday against Berrien Springs.

His parents were unaware that he could play on the varsity tennis team.

Because of that, Smallbone is hoping to get more information out to the schools prior to summer break.

“We have to get that information to eighth graders before they leave for the summer,” she said. “There has to be more done for tennis and cross country, which is hurting for numbers.”

Dowagiac was defeated by Berrien Springs 6-2 Tuesday after dropping a Wolverine Conference doubleheader to Otsego (8-0) and Plainwell (5-3) on Monday.

In the match against Plainwell, Dowagiac actually won 3-2 in matches that were contested on the court.

The Chieftains’ No. 1 doubles team of David Brogan and Mitch Warsko were 2-1 this week in matches.

 

BERRIEN SPRINGS 6, DOWAGIAC 2

At Dowagiac

Singles

1. Brian Shembarger (BS) d. Zach Davis 6-0, 6-4; 2. Ethan Wagner (D) d. Brian Engler 6-1, 3-6, 6-4; 3. Blake Rudlaff (BS) d. Colin Rafferty 6-1, 6-2; 4. Janqwon Seo (BS) d. Kyler Kinyon 6-0, 6-0

 

Doubles

1. David Brogan-Mitch Warsko (D) d. Joonwon Seo-Greg Kugel 6-2, 6-2; 2. Justin Litaker-Celton Wales (BS) d. Ben Herter-Dakota Schoff 6-0, 6-2; 3. Gabe Shembarger-Daniel Pelton won by forfeit; 4. Zach Mugo-Donovan Roach (BS) won by forfeit

 

OTSEGO 8, DOWAGIAC 0

At Dowagiac

Singles

1. Luke Ford (O) d. David Davis 6-0, 6-0; 2. Ryan Piersma (O) d. Ethan Wagner 6-2, 6-3; 3. Adam Cole (O) d. Colin Rafferty 6-0, 6-4

 

Doubles

1. Soloman Korringall-Isaac Clemens (O) d. David Brogan-Mitch Warsko 6-2, 6-1; 2. Jake McPherson-Jonah Ransler (O) d. Ben Herter-Dakota Schoff 6-1, 6-0; Robby Kalleward-Mateo Castanedall (O) won by forfeit; 4. Nate Ossino-Nash Smith (O) won by forfeit

 

PLAINWELL 5, DOWAGIAC 3

At Dowagiac

Singles

1. Garrett George (PL) d. Zach Davis 6-3, 6-1; 2. Ethan Wagner (D) d. Logan Thorne 6-3, 7-6; 3. Max Fitzell (PL) d. Colin Rafferty 6-1, 6-4; 4. Plainwell wins by forfeit

 

Doubles

1. David Brogan-Mitch Warsko (D) d. Aaron Cox-Conner Jerdimir 6-3, 6-3; 2. Trevor Kik-Josh Debates (PL) d. Ben Herter-Dakota Schoff 6-4, 6-0

Varsity record: Dowagiac 0-3