Thanks to the stellar singles play of the JHS tennis team, the Red Devils are Sectional champs for the 11th consecutive year.

Jeffersonville, currently ranked No. 11 in the state, needed all three singles points to down No. 26 Providence, earning a 3-2 victory to advance to the first round of Regionals.

In No. 1 singles, senior Keith Asplund downed Nicholas Boesing 6-3, 6-2. Jeff’s No. 2 singles player Jerid Inman made quick work of Jack Arnson, picking up an unscathed 6-0, 6-0 victory. Finally, senior Black Winchell defeated Sam Stricker 6-0, 6-1, giving the Red Devils their match-clinching third point.

In doubles, Adam Starr and Carson Carrico got the best of JHS’ Colby Kayrouz and Trey Bottorff, winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. The No. 2 doubles tandem of Cullen Ebert and Aaron Agtuca defeated Adam Crawford and Matthew Monroe, 6-1, 6-2.

Next up for the Red Devils is the first round of Regionals, which will be held at Silver Creek next Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. Jeffersonville will look to extend their rivalry against New Albany in the opener.

story by Tristan Jackson

video by Sam Gatewood

As one pulls up to the tennis courts at Jeffersonville High School, they’ll probably notice “J-E-F-F” painted vibrantly along the wall on the side of the school.

From this wall echoes the boys tennis team, an energetic bunch, whose yells rival those of the student section cheering on the football team on Friday nights.

Of those voices, one tends to stand out. That is that of Varsity No. 1 doubles player Trey Bottorff.

“I focus on [being energetic] because it distracts me from thinking too much,” Bottorff said. “Tennis is such a mental sport and it helps me stay within myself and I truly think I play better when I’m energetic. I also use it as a weapon to get in the head of my opponents.”

Bottorff’s energy and passion for the game are what stands out when he plays, and it has proven to pay off. Last year he put up a 10-10 record alongside his partner Jerid Inman, who he has been playing with since their middle school years at Parkview.

The pairing proved to be vital to the team’s semi-state run last year, as they picked up the third, and deciding point, for Jeff in the first round of Regionals against New Albany.

“Clinching Regionals with Trey last year was easily my best memory and I wouldn’t have wanted to win it for our team with anyone else,” Inman said.

As Bottorff heads into his senior season, he looks to contribute on a Red Devils squad that has their eye on getting back to the state finals. Bottorff, along with teammates and fellow seniors Keith Asplund and Jerid Inman, already have experience in the state finals.

Ultimately, that is a goal for the team heading forward.

“The goal is to make it a step further than we did last year, which would mean returning to state for the second time in three years.” Asplund said.

This year’s squad looks to continue Jeff’s winning tradition and get far in the state tournament. To do that, Bottorff will have to play a pivotal role if the Red Devils are to make it happen.

Written by: Bella Bungcayao

The boys tennis team is, and has been, a spotlight for Jeff High athletics, given their winning record and skilled players to come through the program recently.

Last season, the team placed as regional championships and won semi-state, as well as winning 12 out of 16 matches. They placed 6th at the John Shirley Invite, 3rd at Jasper Invite, and 2nd at JHS Classic.

“This team has great leadership and work ethic,” says coach Curt Roehm. “I can depend on them to put in all their effort during practice and a match.”

This is Roehm’s second season being the head coach for the tennis team, and was an assistant for previous head coach Mark Reilly two years back.

“I predict that this season will be very competitive for us, and we need to take it one match at a time. I do see us going on to Sectional and maybe even winning them,” Roehm says.

All of the players also have optimistic attitudes for the 2017 season, none more than senior Keith Asplund.

“The goal is to always improve from the previous season, which would mean a trip to state. We have a lot of potential as a team,” Asplund said.

Coach Roehm also sees potential with Asplund as a player to look out for.

“Keith is a tough kid both on the field and the classroom and fights hard. I see him going really far this season with the sport and leadership,” says Roehm.

Keith is not only a star on the court, but a leader in the school. Asplund is a co-president of student council and an all-around involved student.

“I love that the players on the team are all such good friends. We are a tight knit group of kids, so we always support each other,” Asplund says, commenting on the strength of the team.

Overall, the hope for the upcoming tennis season is extremely high and optimistic amongst the entire team. There is strong faith that the record will only grow higher than the level it’s already at.