Rich Kynast was the head coach of the Milford tennis team with and Rick Wank assisting him. As the former History and German teacher at MHS, Kynast recently retired and this season is the first without him in thirty years.
Wank left the team as well in order to give him more time with his wife and two children. He still remains a teacher at the school.
The boys tennis season is officially underway, with a brand new coach. Mike McKay, a Social studies teacher and former tennis player stepped up for the position after Kynast’s retirement. As of now, they’ve played three matches. Two ending in losses, and one rescheduled due to weather conditions.
Some of the top players on the team are Jack Hilliard, Hayden House, and Michael Hull. With five new tennis players, and multiple players graduating, the tennis team is heading into this season with their head up high, and ready to try their hardest to win.
The players will miss Kynast, but are enjoying working for coach McKay. “I like this coach a lot,” in, 10th grader Alex Terpay said, “I feel like we’re all improving as a team”, and when asked about his position in doubles two he excitedly replied, “I like it even though it’s fluctuating a lot. I feel like I fit in well there.”
So far the team has been up against talented teams such as Walled Lake Northern and South Lion East, but how does the coach himself feel about the team and his new position? McKay happily replied, “We’ve been going up against some tough competition,” he says “It’s good for us because we’re young, and it just gets us better for the future.” He also has a great mindset to hand down to the athletes. “ We’re trying to achieve the mentality of playing the next point, and letting whatever happened in the past get left behind.” McKay said.
There are also multiple freshmen this year who are still learning what it means to be a part of a team.
Freshman Easton Jacobson is a new player on Milford boys tennis team, and he seems to be enjoying his first year. “It’s pretty fun to play tennis with a bunch of people from your school,” he said, “It builds a good sense of friendship”.
The boys tennis team has not always been the best, and has not won a match in 7 years.
In a recent interview he reflects on the season so far by saying, “ This season is not what we wanted, but we can turn that around .”
It’s safe to say that the boys on the team have high hopes and spirits going into this season, and are going to try their hardest no matter the circumstances.