CHARLESTON — University head coach Tom McClellan has a lot to look forward to.
With five of his top six players freshmen and sophomores, McClellan coaches one the youngest teams in the state. That didn’t stop the Hawks from qualifying an entire team for the Class AAA state tournament while advancing in five positions to the semifinals.
“It’s just outstanding. I was so excited for this team. Getting the whole team qualified for states was a victory,” McClellan said. “This is a testament to their hard work, and I think this is a fantastic building block for the future.”
Unfortunately for UHS, it dropped all five of its semifinal matches Friday. But for senior Drew Hawthorne, No. 1 singles competitor and No. 1 doubles competitor alongside his brother Kyle, just making it this far is a sign of the progress made since he first stepped foot on the court as a freshman.
“This team has gotten better and better every year since I’ve joined, and I was glad to be able to finish my senior season strong,” he said.
Despite the losses, McClellan is not upset with his squad’s performance. In fact, the situation is quite the opposite.
“I thought the team performed excellently. The scores were not indicative of the effort given,” he said.
McClellan sees the success as a payoff for the hard work he has spent attempting to implement a true tennis culture at UHS and in Morgantown.
“I think that there is a greater interest in tennis, and in working year round in tennis, which is what makes you more competitive. That’s what we’re trying to build,” he said. “All of our kids are talking about how hard they’re going to work in the offseason. That’s what you need. A hunger to get better.”
As a player, Hawthorne notes that he has witnessed up close the change in regard to tennis and its popularity in our region, and how recently Morgantown has fostered an environment for tennis success.
“It’s been amazing to see how tennis has grown in the city as a whole recently,” Hawthorne said.
McClellan hopes his young squad can build upon the experience gained to become an even larger threat at the state level in following years.
“Now that they’ve been here, they know what they have to face. That gives them ammunition for getting better,” he said. “Having the team come down this year will help next year. All of the little nuances needed to perform well at the state tournament, hopefully we can pick up on them and use them next year.”
Hawthorne took the loss in No. 1 singles for the Hawks, while his brother faltered in No. 2 singles. The pair also dropped a No. 1 doubles match. Andre Barcinas fell in No. 4 singles, and Deiland Slaughter and Levi Watson lost in No. 3 doubles.
