Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Coach Gwynn Continues a Lifetime of Tennis Charmange Gwynn, the boys and girls tennis team coach, has had a very positive season to be proud of. Her coaching skills have brought many of the players up the ladder to achieve victor)'. She was born in Landstuhl, Germany. Tennis never became apart of her life until her college years since the local high school did not have a team. She played in college for several years and went on to coach tennis. She has ? Front: Coach Gwynn, S. Kni, S. Jung, S. Knight, M. Bohot, S. Narang, M. South, T. Pham, A. Kavianiesbily; 2nd: R.J. Harr, A. McHugh, C. Meinecke, A. Carrel!, P. Mann; Back: B. Allen, C. Bratka, P. Brogan, T. Kagan. Photo by A. Miles taught tennis for four years and this is the first school that she has ever coached. She really doesn't know what got her interested in coaching in high school. Her involvement in tennis has made a great contribution to the team. Besides coaching, she competes in some tournaments as well. She has no family and coaching tennis, as well as science in the South House, is her only career, both which help her to be a dedicated coach. When asked to predict her star player's future in tennis, she stated, Chuck Bratka will bean excellent college player, because he has continued to improve. She thinks he is the nicest person you would ever want to know and that this will also help him to succeed in college. Coach Gwynn views coaching such an excellent team as an honor. She said, It sure is n to have people who work hard for you and themselve She feels that Chuck is I sweetest guy you will ever m- and wishes she had disposition. Pat Brogan is vt dependable and she can coi on him, and R.J. Harr has bee tremendous addition to ( team. She agrees that they ar fun group and has learned a from them. By Noelle Mil Freshman Shannan Knight reaches out at a ground ball with a forehand. Photo by A. Miles 236 Competition Tennis

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Senior Michele South works on her forehand for the upcoming Bollaire Tournament. Photo by R. Law- Statewide and nationally ranked top seed Chuck Bratka practices to improve his backhand. He beat Chris Stanich from Stratford to advance to State and Klein's Mark Mance to win the state title. Photo by R. Law Most valuable girls player, Anne McHugh increases her stamina in tennis drills designed by Coach Gwynn which involve tedious exercise. Photo by A. Miles Girls' Tennis Spring Woods 2-7 Spring Branch 0-9 Westchester 0-9 Hastings 0-9 Northbrook 5-4 Memorial 1-8 Stratford 3-6 Dulles 4-0 Robert E. Lee 1-3 Taylor 1-1 Jersey Village 1-3 Sharpstown 3-1 Memorial 0-4 Spring Woods 3-1 Northbrook 1-3 Kincaid 1-3 Spring Branch 1-3 Freshman team player Robert Talastas works out at the Alief courts to progress in his tennis skills. Photo by R. Law Tennis Compctition 235

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 Girls Improve Standings ring a drill session, Chris Meinecke works on his serve. Photo by A. Miles The girls tennis team had a very weak season as Coach Gwynn sees it. Unless we get a good transfer next year, things don't look too promising! , replied Gwynn when asked about the future teams' potential. Their district stand- ing of 6th out of eight schools was an improvement over last year's standing of last place. Most valuable player was Senior Anne McHugh because she is always at practice and very motivated. The team will lose her along with Tracy Kagan and Thien Pham which will affect the teams' standing. Junior Tracy Kagan stated, I am not going to play next year because of my tough academic schedule. She feels tennis demands a lot of time and dedication on the part of the participants which she can't continue to give. Tracv felt the toughest school to defeat was Memorial and said, They have a solid team and have many ranked players on both their boys and girls teams. The team was defeated by them twice, 1-8 and 0-4. The easiest win for Tracy was Spring Woods. There were no changes in coaching techniques as far as Coach Gwynn is concerned. Tracy explained, Coach Gwynn plans many drills, designed to perfect specific skills. Shealso involves running and jumping rope in our practices, helping us to become more agile and durable. The girl's tennis team has a lot of potential and can go far Tracy believes. We have a solid and dedicated team and they have improved tremendously over the past year! Tracy stated. By Noelle Miller Good stamina helps Thien Pham in reaching for cross court plays. Photo by R. Law Outstanding player of the season, R.J. Harr works out for the upcoming Bellaire Varsity Tournament. Photo by R. Law Tennis Competition 237