Ryle High School enjoyed one of the deepest boys tennis
rosters in Northern Kentucky this season. That depth helped the Raiders to a
nearly perfect season.
Banding together were 34 young men who posted a 14-2 record.
The Raiders could not get past Covington Catholic in the Ninth Region, but
enjoyed a very successful season.
“I expected our team to grown as tennis players and young
men, giving one hundred percent,” said head coach Amy Bates. “They met all
expectations.”
Seniors Avery Williams, Adam Rost, Kyle James, and Ethan
Smith led the way. The Raiders will graduate nine seniors, but return 25
players next season. Most teams would be lost after graduating that many
seniors, but the Raiders have a nice foundation that benefitted from the class
of 2013’s leadership and will be back next year to build on this season’s
success.
“Of the nine seniors graduating, I will miss their positive
outlooks, their desire to do their personal best on the court for their team,
the examples that they have set for our new players,” said Bates. “Several of
them have been playing on the team since middle school. I've had the pleasure
of watching them grow into young men.”
Teamwork and selflessness were keys to the Raiders’ success
this season. With so many players battling in practice each day and only seven
starting varsity spots open for each meet, it took a total team effort to
finish 14-2.
“I feel like our team really pulled together as a team this
season,” said Bates. “They supported each other without prompting. I really
hope the team will keep that cohesive attitude, supporting each other on and
off the court.”
Former Raider dies
Former Raider dies
Unfortunately, the offseason started on a tragic note.
Former Raiders tennis player Jonathan Brigham died May 12.
Brigham, a 2010 Ryle graduate, was far more than a tennis player. He was also
his class’s valedictorian and prom king. Brigham was a pre-med student at the
University of Kentucky. He collapsed while jogging on Tuesday, May 7. His loss
has hit the entire Raiders community hard.
“I was fortunate to have had him in class his sophomore
year,” said Bates, who teaches math at Ryle. “He was without a doubt the most
organized student I have ever had the privileged of teaching or coaching.”
Brigham was a well-rounded leader at Ryle and carried those
same traits with him to UK. At both stops, he was involved in several
extracurricular activities, always taking on leadership roles and working
tirelessly to better himself and others.
“Jonathan was a fabulous young man, the kind that always met
you with a smile and a kind word,” said Bates. “He made everyone around him
feel special for just knowing him.
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