The Mountain Ridge boys tennis team has had some ups and downs since the school opened, but head coach Parker Hansen thinks things could be tilting in the Sentinels’ direction. 

The 2024 version lacks a lot of seasoned veterans, but the underclassmen have talent and provide a lot of optimism—for this season and the years to come. 

“We have a very young team and there is so much talent and potential,” Hansen said. “We have a lot of young, talented players coming into Mountain Ridge who I can see playing varsity and helping us win a lot of games in years to come. I’m excited to coach the young talent and get them experience for the coming years.”

Leading the team is first singles player Luke Dalton, second singles player Spencer White and the first doubles tandem of Brigham Bennion and Bridger Newsome. These four players are skilled, give a good effort and help the other players get better. 

“All are very experienced and very consistent in their game,” Hansen said. “They lead the team with their attitude and hard work.”

Mountain Ridge competes in Class 6A’s Region 2, which features some strong programs. The Sentinels will encounter Corner Canyon, Herriman, Copper Hills, Riverton and Bingham. Hansen knows there are difficult matches ahead but that every time on the court can be a learning experience. The Sentinels will face their region foes and then take part in the Region 2 tournament. These matches will determine which players qualify for the 6A state tournament, which starts May 4 at Farmington High School for the first round and then continues May 9 and 11 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City with further rounds.

For Mountain Ridge players to get to state and for the team to do well this season, Hansen is working on fundamentals, strategy and other basics of the game. He wants his players to understand the sport, work hard and give it their all—whether in a match or at practice. 

“Our team needs to zone in on the analytics of tennis,” he said. “We need to focus on working on the strategy, angles and hustle during practices. Also, I’m looking to improve the mental side of our team. We have a lot of talented players who are being limited by themselves.”

Hansen gets a lot out of working with the boys and seeing them succeed on and off the tennis court. To him, it’s just as important that the boys enjoy the sport and the time they have together as it is to get a certain number of wins. 

“My favorite thing about the team is their excitement for the game and for each other,” he said. “Every single practice and match is fun. The guys make tennis fun, and they enjoy being around each other. I love seeing them make best friends on and off the court.”

To build the program, Hansen hopes that the entire mindset about the sport and the team at Mountain Ridge can shift. He is working hard to generate more interest in tennis so more players try out. 

“My goal is to change the culture of tennis and develop an excitement around this team,” he said. “We have a lot of fun and energetic players who are fun to watch. I’m hoping that this energy will trickle to the middle schools and high school, and we’ll have a lot of people trying out for the team next year.” λ