Upper Perk tennis is on the verge of closing out a season that featured tentative steps toward what coach John Williamson hopes will be a dominant team in a couple of seasons.

            This year's squad was composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores and the few upper classmen served as guiding examples as the team, literally, tried to get up to speed.

            Williamson was pleased that the team managed four victories (pending Wednesday's make-up match at Perkiomen Prep). "Overall, I feel like we met our potential as a team this season."

            Senior co-captain Jake Vogel, a four year tennis player for the Indians, could empathize with the culture shock experienced by the newcomers.

            Vogel, who played opponents' best at first singles, cited speed of play as one of the biggest adaptations he had to make over the course of four years. "I was slow getting up to the net. I've learned to be on my toes."

            "Jake Vogel was a great senior leader for us this season," Williamson noted. "Definitely needed some strong leadership to keep it together and to teach the younger guys how to go about things.

            "There are a lot of younger players who had great seasons and will be turning into key players for the upcoming seasons.  Jake showed them the right attitude and work ethic that it takes to be a team player."

            Vogel, heading to Bloomsburg in the fall, and fellow senior captain Josh Landis relished the role of mentors. "It certainly was a learning and growing year," Landis said. "We had great turnouts for practice from just about everyone."

            Landis, bound for an aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech, followed a path similar to Vogel's. As a freshman he was the first JV player and worked his way to first doubles this year, pairing with sophomore Luke Powers for the first time.

            Landis also got to experience being a teammate with his freshman brother, Ryan.

            Sometimes we'll be playing at the same time, so we won't be able to watch each other [throughout a whole match].  

            "If we don't, we'll say 'Hey! I saw you were doing this; maybe you could work on that.' I'm a little bit more of a coach to him. Sometimes he does have comments."

            Williamson was pleased with the attitude of his young team.

            "It was one of the better groups I've had in the years I've been coaching. In that respect it really was a good group of players."

            To take the next steps in competitiveness, Williamson has urged his charges to play during the summer.

            "Trying to get some of the younger guys to play in some summer leagues where they can sort of get used to playing against a good level of competition," he said.

            Additionally, Williamson points to the value of playing other sports.

            "As long as they're doing something, playing other sports, working out, being active to keep them moving. Our quickest players are football players," Williamson noted, referring to Jaden Fisher and Nick Caciolo.

            "Two guys that play football that are linemen. They have some of the quickest feet on the team." 

            Landis and Vogel will bow out playing together at the PAC Doubles Championships next week.

            Left behind will be the lessons they imparted to their teammates.

            "It's a good group of kids," Vogel said. "They watch each other play, they come and practice on the weekend. Anything that they see needs help, they help each other."