Penn College Tennis Coach Predicts Championships

Coach Charlie Baum is making some bold predictions for his Pennsylvania College of Technology tennis team this season. And, realistically, he expects it to deliver.

"I see us possibly winning a team championship just because of our depth . . . We're ready to go," the fourth-year coach said.

Penn College's opener is now set for April 5; its scheduled opener at Reading Community College was canceled after Reading dropped its program.

Wildcat men's singles players, in order of ranking, include Nick Aulick (freshman, Williamsport), Adam Cleland (freshman/East Pennsboro), Mike Cerisini (freshman/Lebanon), Robert "Spyke" Krepshaw (sophomore/Southern Columbia), Jon Brunetti (freshman/Hughesville), Aaron Capp (sophomore/Red Lion), Kurt Russ (sophomore/Waynesboro) and Shawn Connelly (freshman/Hempfield).

Women include Tonya Strouse (sophomore/Central Mountain), Kristy Boyd (freshman/Parkland) and Kendra Geromi (freshman/Hughesville).

Points awarded in four men's singles matches, two men's doubles, two women's singles and one women's doubles go toward determining the team score.

Capp, Krepshaw and Strouse are returnees from last year's squad, which posted a 3-2 record. Capp and Krepshaw split time at the No. 1 men's singles position while Strouse played at No. 2 women's singles and teamed with since-graduated Michal Wolf (Hughesville) to win the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association women's doubles championship. Strouse also finished second in women's singles in the conference.

"We have a definitely much stronger team than last year, so I'm really excited. Our depth is going to be a key for us this year. We're pretty strong, one through four. Our No. 1 looks like he might roll through pretty well this year and, definitely, our 2-3-4 are going to have very good matches. I think they're going to be in the win column almost all of the time," assessed Baum, who is in his fourth season as coach. "This is one of the deepest teams I've seen in the league."

"Our girls are very close as far as skill level. I see (Strouse and Boyd) maybe flip-flopping between the No. 1 and 2 positions, and I see them rolling through this year. I see one of these girls winning the (conference) singles championship this year and, definitely, the doubles championship," the coach added.