A four-year varsity points leader at Smoky Valley, Aeschliman was a key member of the 2010 team that finished fifth at the state tournament.

An honor roll student and National Honor Society member, Aeschliman plans to study math education at Hesston.

“Sam comes from a great tennis program at Smoky Valley,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “She has been their points winner all four years. Her talent and skill are dwarfed only by her personality and excitement for life. She will be a perfect fit on campus. I couldn’t be happier about her joining our incredible program.”

Aeschliman is the daughter of Julie Aeschliman, Lindsborg.

Joining sophomore Katie Miller (Rio Rancho, N.M.) on this year’s roster are freshmen Kaci Diener (Harrisonville, Mo.), Emma Payne (Pulaski, Iowa), Leah Unruh (Newton, Kan.), Courtney Unruh (Hesston, Kan.) and Erika Wedel (McPherson, Kan.).

“I’m looking forward to seeing what our young players can do,” Baker said. “They’re working hard and enjoying each other. We’re excited to get things started.”

Highlighting the 2012 schedule are several matches against local four-year varsity programs including Bethel College (North Newton), Tabor College (Hillsboro) and McPherson College. Last year’s team recorded three wins against Central Christian College’s (McPherson, Kan.) varsity.

A team MVP in her sophomore year and a co-captain the past two years at Morton High, Mitchell was a key part of her team’s back-to-back Mid-Illini Conference championships in 2008-09. Mitchell also ran track at Morton High.

“Savannah’s maturity and ability to relate to people are some of the things I’m most excited about,” said Hesston coach Jeron Baker. “She will be an instant leader. Her work ethic and potential are high. Savannah will be a terrific asset to our team.”

Mitchell is the daughter of Martin and Victoria Mitchell, Groveland, Ill.

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.”

Emma Payne signs with the Larks

A letter-winner in tennis at Davis County High, Payne becomes the second signee of the year for Hesston coach Jeron Baker. An honor roll member all four years of high school, Payne will pursue a nursing degree at Hesston.

She is a member of Pulaski (Iowa) Mennonite Church, and is active in the youth group there, serving as treasurer.

“Emma’s passion for tennis and commitment to improve will be a great asset to our team,” Baker said. “She has a grasp of the campus and uniqueness of our institution and will fit in very well.”

Payne is the daughter of Dan and Chris Payne, Pulaski.

On the women’s side, sophomore Jenny Carter (Lexington, Mo.), along with freshman Alyssa Horst (Orrville, Ohio), Kendra Mast (Dundee, Ohio), Katie Miller (Albuquerque, N.M.), Taylor Funk (Russell, Kan.) and Shanda Zacher (Hackensack, Minn.) combine for an improved and deeper roster.

“Our women’s team has a good competitive balance,” Baker said. “On any given day, our six could beat our one.”

For the men, last year’s one, two, four and six return in David Tedone (North Richland Hills, Texas), Ryan Wengerd (Goshen, Ind.), Alex Roth (Hesston, Kan.) and Adam Weaver (Hesston, Kan.). That core will be strengthened by freshman Jordan Tompkins (Wellington, Kan.), Luke Miller (Wichita, Kan.) and Jake Painter (Springfield, Mo.). Sophomore Mitch Yoder (Kalona, Iowa) and freshman Austin Loucks (Goshen, Ind.), Claude Stickler (Goshen, Ind.) and Stephen Quenzer (Visalia, Calif.) will provide experience in doubles play.

“I’m excited about the energy and camaraderie I’ve seen thus far,” Baker said. “It’s a fun group to be a part of and I’m looking forward to watching the potential develop. We’ll surprise some people this year.”

Erika Wedel will continue her tennis career at Hesston College

Wedel played four years of Tennis at McPherson, lettering in each of the last two. During her summers she participated in Mac Advantage tennis, a United States Tennis Association (USTA) program. After compiling a combined 76-42 mark in her tennis career for McPherson, Wedel advanced to the state tournament in doubles her senior year.

An honor roll member all four years of high school, Wedel will pursue a Nursing degree at Hesston. She currently works as a CNA at Schowalter Villa retirement home in Hesston.

“Having Erika as the first signee for this year is symbolic of who she is,” said Hesston tennis coach Jeron Baker. “Erika will be a significant piece of a rebuilding effort in this program with her energy and desire to grow, as well as her overall fit at Hesston College. She will help bring in another three or four solid student athletes either for next year or the year after that. I look forward to the things Erika can do in the classroom and on the court over the next two years.”

Wedel is the daughter of Tracey and Rex Wedel, McPherson.