After Barton claimed wins at one and two singles, Hesston responded with victories in the remaining singles matches. Keenan Jensen (Hesston, Kan.), Taylor Ermoian (Hays, Kan.), Dominic Murray (Denver, Colo.) and Drew Hostetler (Goshen, Ind.) earned wins in singles play. Needing just one doubles victory to secure the team win, Ermoian and Hostetler coasted to an 8-0 win to send the Larks home happy.

“Our men played well up and down the lineup,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “A huge win at three singles essentially clinched the match for us. It was awesome also to see freshman step up in the way they did. Drew got a good win at six singles and Dominic fought hard to bring us a win at five singles in a third set tie-breaker. That kind of matchplay helps them grow up quickly.”

Hesston travels to McPherson (Kan.) College for a 6 p.m. match on Tuesday, March 5.

“Our men’s roster is similar to last year,” Baker said. “We’ve increased our depth in the two spots we graduated and have a better overall team.”

As an NJCAA Region VI member, Hesston men’s tennis will once again look forward to a challenging schedule. The Larks open the 2013 slate with an indoor match at Region VI foe Barton Community College (Great Bend, Kan.) at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25. The Larks’ March 21 home match against Ottawa (Kan.) University, beginning at 11 a.m., will be streamed live and is accessible at hesston.edu/larks.

“We’ve improved, but so has our competition,” Baker added. “I’m excited to see how this group handles themselves after last year’s success. The bar has been raised, and we have the talent to play at a higher level. I expect our men to make a solid push in region play.”

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked Hesston Tennis 24th in its final 2011-12 rankings, released earlier this summer. When he received word of the recognition, Hesston coach Jeron Baker was thrilled.

“The year-end ranking is a testament to the hard work put in by our entire program last year,” Baker said. “The men specifically received the ranking but we view ourselves as one team. The time and energy put in by all players, both men and women, to challenge each other is what helped us accomplish this milestone. With the strong support we have returning and the new additions to our program, last year’s ceiling could become this year’s floor.”

Baker highlighted three individuals from last year’s squad who stood out, including Taylor Ermoian (Hays, Kan.), Luis Ramirez (Tachira, Venezuela) and local product Michael Oyer (Hesston, Kan.), all returning sophomores who hope to life the Larks to even greater heights this year.

“We only hope to grow from here,” added Baker. “We continue to teach that in all things, not just tennis, there is nothing better than getting better. I’m proud of our team and our institution for supporting each other in the ways we have.”

“I’m very excited about Wes joining our team,” said Head Coach Jeron Baker. “Wes has a deep desire to learn the game and does everything he can to find out about the strengths and weaknesses of opposing players. He will help our team be more cerebral in our approach to the game.”

Aside from his time with Hesston High Tennis, Wilder also played two years of cross country and football for the Swathers. He was a key part of the Swathers’ 2011 tennis team that finished state runners-up at the Kansas 4A State Boys tournament.

A four-year honor roll student and Kansas Scholar, Wilder plans to study nursing at Hesston College. Wilder is an active member of Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston. He is the son of Kevin and Marilyn Wilder, Hesston.

A captain at Goshen High, Hostetler played three years of varsity tennis for the Redskins. He will pursue studies toward an engineering degree at Hesston.

Hostetler is the son of Don and Cynthia Hostetler. He attends Grace Community Church in Goshen.

“Drew will add a lot to the foundation of our program,” Baker said. “He comes from a well-coached team and was highly recommended by both of his coaches. Drew brings a big game and I’m excited about the contribution he’ll make next year.”

A team captain his senior year, Mast was a key member of Turner Ashby’s boys tennis team that went 14-2 in 2012 – the best mark in school history.

An honor roll student, Mast will enroll in Hesston’s disaster management program. He attends Cornerstone Church, Broadway, Va.,  and is active in the youth group and media services there.

Mast is the son of Dale and Shari Mast, Harrisonburg, Va.

“Kendrik will provide instant depth for us,” Baker said. “After graduating just two of our top six players, Kendrik will instantly compete for one of those top spots. It’s an honor to have him join our program.”

Competing against three four-year varsity tennis programs, Hesston freshmen Luis Ramirez (Tachira, Venezuela), Michael Oyer (Hesston, Kan.) and Taylor Ermoian (Hays, Kan.) each won their match at one, two and four singles, respectively.

In doubles play, Ermoian and Keenan Jensen (Hesston, Kan.), another freshman, won at two, while Oyer and Austin Loucks (Elkhart, Ind.) won at three.

“I was so proud of our team today,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “Our men couldn’t have played any better in the opening round. Hesston College played in 5 of the 6 singles finals and all 3 doubles finals. On the women’s side, Erika Wedel got her first singles win of the year and Kaci Diener and Wedel recorded their first doubles win of the year. This was a huge day for our program.”

After winning two of three doubles matches, the Larks’ top three singles all fell, giving Barton a 4-2 advantage with three matches to go. Freshmen Taylor Ermoian (Hays, Kan.) and Keenan Jensen (Hesston, Kan.) rebounded with impressive wins (6-2, 6-4 and 6-1, 6-1) to knot things up, and sophomore Austin Loucks (Elkhart, Ind.) delivered with a win (6-0, 7-5) in the final singles match to clinch the Hesston win.

“We knew going in we had to lead with our doubles play and start the day off strong,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “We got big wins at 1 and 3 doubles and from there it was a percentage game. We just needed 3 of the 6 singles to pull out the match. The bottom half of our lineup came up huge. If we continue to play like we did yesterday we will have a very successful season.”

“We’ll have good competition up and down our roster,” Baker said. “As many as four freshmen could crack the top six. I’m excited to see who steps up.”

Several matches highlight the 2012 schedule, including a March 27 date at neighboring Bethel College (North Newton) whose roster includes former Hesston standout David Tedone, now a top player for the Threshers’ program. On March 28, Hesston hosts local rival Tabor College.

The Larks will look to build on last year’s success when the men’s team recorded impressive wins against four-year varsity programs Southwestern College (Winfield, Kan.), Friends University (Wichita, Kan.) and Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina, Kan.).

Ermoian is a four-year varsity player for Hays, compiling a 20-13 overall record as a senior. He earned the school’s Most Spirited Athlete Award following his senior year in which he helped Hays to a state tournament berth.

An honor roll student, National Honor Society member and Citizenship Award winner, Ermoian excels in the classroom as well.

“Taylor’s ability to understand the intricacies of the game and ability to structure points make him a valuable asset to the program,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “It’s his personality that excites me the most though. He is the exact type of student we want at Hesston.”

Ermoian is the son of Cheryl Herman and Kyle Ermoian, Hays. He attends Celebration Community Church in Hays and is active in the youth group there.

A varsity letter-winner in tennis and track, Hickert has served as team captain for her tennis team the last two seasons.

Whitney Hickert signs with Hesston Tennis

A four-year academic letter recipient at Hays High, Hickert is an honor roll student, National Honor Society member and Athletic Boosters Scholar. She plans to study nursing at Hesston.

“Whitney is the type of player who will instantly become a leader on our team,” Baker said. “She exudes care and compassion for others and will be a great example for all of us. She has a high athletic ceiling, and with more specific tennis instruction there’s no telling how good she can be.”

Hickert is the daughter of Kevin and Sondra Hickert, Hays. She attends Liberty Christian Fellowship Church in Hays.

Jeron Baker, currently in his third year at the helm of the Hesston College tennis program, was the recipient of that email written by Art Mullet, Hesston’s long-time athletic director. Two months after that initial contact – which had been encouraged by current Hesston faculty Jen LeFevre, Baker’s tennis coach at Hesston – Baker returned to the Hesston campus to interview for the position. By day’s end, the job was his.

Now, three years later, it’s evident that Baker’s players are experiencing the same personal growth he did, all the while playing lead roles in the rebuilding effort that has stabilized Hesston College Tennis.

“When we were looking for a new tennis coach, I immediately thought of Jeron,” Lefevre said. “I knew we needed someone with a solid knowledge of the game as well as a passion for the sport. Jeron is a great recruiter; he’s very relational and is a natural at connecting with people.  I’ve enjoyed watching him continue to grow into his role as tennis coach and really strengthen the program.”

Baker saw the tremendous opportunity in the chance to come back to his alma mater and resurrect a program for which he deeply cared. He immediately felt ownership in the call to mentor young players and watch them grow. As the result of his efforts, the program grew, too.

“When offered the chance to not only return to Hesston, but be involved with tennis, my first instinct was to jump on it immediately,” Baker said. “Being able to relate to Hesston students and utilize my abilities to impact their lives was the ultimate opportunity for me.”

Sophomore Adam Weaver, Hesston, Kan., describes Baker as a tremendous motivator; someone who has a pulse on the physical and mental needs of his players.

“Jeron is aware of our lives outside of tennis,” Weaver said. “He’ll often stop me on campus and ask what my day’s been like and if I’m feeling ready to play that day. On the court he’s helped me maintain my focus and intensity. There’s hardly a drill where he’s not jumping in and teaching right beside us.”

A chemistry major whose involvements on campus include being a lab assistant and resident assistant, not to mention his time with the tennis and soccer programs, Weaver played the best tennis of his life this spring, according to Baker.

“Adam has been just amazing this year,” Baker said. “It’s rewarding to see players’ successes and growth throughout their time here. He’s been a big part of our program.”
Weaver wasn’t the only player to experience success this season.

During a late-March, early-April stretch, the men’s team notched three consecutive victories over local four-year varsity tennis programs in Friends University, Wichita, Southwestern College, Winfield, and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina.

The women’s team enjoyed their share of success, too, earning three wins over Central Christian College, McPherson, Kan., also a four-year varsity program.

“I hadn’t planned on playing tennis in college,” said freshman Alyssa Horst, Orrville, Ohio, who came to Hesston initially to play volleyball. “Getting to know Jeron throughout the year got me interested in giving it a shot. He has a different style of coaching that I’ve never experienced before. He’s very intense and energetic. He motivates us, stays positive and just doesn’t tolerate negativity.”

In the end, after the final game of the final match has been played, it’s the overall college experience of his players that Baker is most interested in. This mindset has, in turn, led to new heights for the Hesston College tennis program.

“My personal Hesston experience wasn’t defined by tennis, but was highly influenced by it,” Baker said. “I loved my time at Hesston and the relationships that existed. Looking back, tennis was a small sample of the larger model that existed for me there.”

“I’m looking forward to being a sophomore next year and getting to know an entirely new incoming class of students, which is basically half the student body,” Horst said. “It’ll be a great new start to another great year.”