VEEDERSBURG — Heading into the 2022 and even the first couple of matches of the season, longtime Fountain Central boys tennis coach Chris Webb didn’t quite know what to expect from his team. Now that FC is deep into it’s season as the sectional is just next week, Webb knows fully what to expect and that’s just one thing... success. What has transpired for Fountain Central this season is just an overall record of 10-1 on the season including a perfect 5-0 in the WRC which allowed FC to be named conference champions.
“We’ve been able to pull out a lot of 3-2 matches and I think that’s what’s been the most impressive thing for me to see from these guys,” Webb said. “We’ve had different players step up on different nights, guys that are willing and able to take on different roles and play as hard as they can at any spot we ask of them. It’s came down to us just finding away. They’ve been resilient and have bought in and fought all season long.”
What makes the season even more impressive for FC is that they are a fairly young team. Skyler Hoagland and Gabe McCollum are both sophomores and man the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. McCollum so far has posted an overall record of 12-3 on the season. At the doubles spots is where FC has found a lot of success as their one doubles team sits at 13-2 while the Mustangs a perfect 15-0 at two doubles. Wes Jackson and Brayden Prickett have accounted for 12 of those 15 wins.
“Our two sophomores are just really hungry,” Webb said of Hoagland and McCollum. “Gabe isn’t the most intimidating player out on the court but he makes up for that with how hard he battles each one of his opponents. He kind of embodies what are our team has been all season and I’ve been impressed with both him and Skyler continue to battle at our top two spots.”
One of the two seniors for the Mustangs is captain Lukas Miller who mans one of two spots at one doubles. Miller earlier in his career has seen the success that those Fountain Central teams had and is now trying to replicate that same success with the rest of his team.
“It comes down to working hard in practice,” Miller said. “Having the JV and even the junior high kids out here practicing with us, everyone is just trying to get better and it really just comes together quite nicely. We try and never be satisfied with where we’re at. I know as a senior I don’t want to stop playing so we’re going to keep going with this group as long as we can.”
With a coaching staff that features girls head coach David Kight and a couple of others, the Mustangs have built a good group that continues to lead and is always teaching no matter how much or how little success the Mustangs might be having.
“Coach Warren, coach Walke and of course with coach Kight, I trust all of those guys at all times,” Webb said. “They’re continuing to push all of our guys to make sure these guys are getting better. There is an expectation with us that’s not really focused on th wins and losses. We’re more concerned with are we getting better. Do I like being 10-1? Of course, but as long as we’re getting better each and every day, that’s what’s most important.”
The second captain for the Mustangs is junior Brayden Prickett who also echoed Webb’s comments about the coaching staff that the Mustangs have surrounded themselves with and notes how FC might have surprised their coach with how well they’re playing.
“I think we might have surprised Coach Webb because he didn’t expect this much out of us,” Prickett said. “With playing for Coach Webb it’s a challenge every day but one that we embrace. He’s seen a lot of tennis in his day and knows how to get us playing better. Our depth has allowed us to have a lot of different options. I don’t think there’s a drastic change in talent and anyone on this team could beat anybody on any given day.”
Fountain Central looks to continue their successful season when they return to the courts on Tuesday when they host Western Boone. FC also hosts the sectional which gets underway next week when the Mustangs will look for their fifth sectional title in the last six seasons.
With the talent on this FC team and the leadership of Webb, that’s a great recipe for success and it’s paid off for the Mustangs so far.
