Excitement is building with the commencement of the Tennis Geelong triples pennant on Thursday, and junior and senior pennants today.
Geelong Lawn continues to have a dominant presence in juniors with 18 teams entered.
Last summer saw the club take the premiership in Section 1 girls and come in runner up in Section 1 boys, so with one girls’ team and three boys’ teams in the top grades, the club will be looking to continue its good performances at the top end of the competition.
This season also sees the return of senior teams from Lawn, with two men’s and one mixed team, all appearing in Section 1.
The mixed team will see a mix of players from the Section 1 boys’ teams combined with Charlie Reid from Barwon Heads, while Sasha Vlamynck will be teaming up with Ned Simpson, who has made the move from Grovedale, and a number of newcomers to the competition for Green.
White will feature Saxon Richardson and Jason D’Souza who have moved from Leopold, joining Teal Studer formerly of Surfcoast and newcomer Jarrod Joyce.
Grovedale is another club with a major presence in Tennis Geelong competition with 17 junior and 14 senior teams entered.
In juniors, last year’s premiers for Section 2 boys and girls have pushed into Section 1, while the balance of the teams are spread well through the sections.
Seniors will be looking to maintain their dominance at the top of the competition, having taken out both men’s and mixed Section 1 titles, and having three teams in the top mixed section.
With Ned Simpson moving to Lawn, Curtis Fitzgerald will come into the men’s team, which otherwise remains unchanged, while the mixed premiers, Yellow, retains the same line up.
Grovedale has recruited Taj Cayzer and Gavin D’Souza from Leopold, along with Lachlan Hewitt for its Gold team, who will team up with Zoe and Lily Duff, and Abbey McPhee returning to the fold.
Tegan Marshall and Jordyn Aitken join the Grovedale Section 1 ranks for the Black team.
Moriac has added a men’s team to its senior ranks this season, with a team of junior boys trying their hand in the afternoon competition.
Last year’s Section 5 mixed runners up will move up a grade this year, placing it in the same section as the club’s second team, while Section 2 may be a better fit for last year’s Section 1 wooden spooners.
Portarlington has one team in seniors and has pushed itself up to Section 2 after coming runner up last summer in Section 3.
Newcomb has increased its team tally this year with the addition of a Section 5 men’s team.
David Spork will be heading up the team of teenagers who are having their first season together, but are no strangers to senior competition.
Point Lonsdale is continuing to grow its juniors under the watchful eye of Denis Day, with seven regular teams and three for the shorter orange ball competition.
With some great results last summer the teams should enjoy the move up the ranks.
