KINGSTON — Vic Nelson enjoys coaching too much to stop now.
After resigning as head coach of the North Kitsap High School girls tennis team at the end of the spring season, Nelson decided to try his hand at coaching in Kingston.
“I guess I knew I was going to miss coaching,” Nelson said during the second day of tennis practice. “Plus, the fall season fits my schedule better.”
Nelson is now the Kingston High School boys tennis head coach, replacing Ken Crawford. He brings 10 years of coaching experience — six years as assistant and four as head — and hopes to continue teaching strong fundamentals.
During the spring season, Nelson helped two girls doubles teams from North Kitsap make it to the state tournament — including Kelsey Grunigen and Brianna Bohl, who took third at the 2A state doubles tournament.
It was the first time he led players to state from North Kitsap. Besides attending the practices, Nelson said to become a state competitor, work on one’s tennis game must be done outside of school and continue throughout the year.
Kingston faces Bremerton High School at home Sept. 8. Matches start at 4 p.m.
Large group for North Kitsap tennis
POULSBO — The North Kitsap High School boys tennis team will most likely face its toughest competition against Port Angeles and Sequim. How the individuals face those opponents is up to them.
The varsity team needs to work on consistency and, without sacrificing a hit out of bounds, trying to make more difficult shots, North’s head coach Jay Devries said.
“I think the end goal is going to be more on them and how they take the season,” he said.
The team has a total of 22 returning players. Not all of those players lettered. Included in the list of returners is senior Zach Fohn.
Fohn went to state in the 2A singles tournament during the 2010-11 season, taking sixth. Having Fohn for one last season, while top players from PA and Sequim have already graduated, will give the team an overall advantage on points.
With so many returners, North could improve upon its 12-2 record from last season.
Devries said ultimately how the players trained in the off season and what they do during practice makes the difference.
“They can’t just sit around during practice and hit the ball back and forth,” he said.
