With all his nagging injuries subsided, Adam Dockery has been able to work on his game. With an improved serve and an unorthodox backhand, the Upper Perkiomen

Adam Dockery delivers a forehand shot during practice Monday.  Dockery, Upper Perkiomen's top singles play- er, looks to return to the District One Tournament.

senior says he's ready to lead the tennis team to its most competitive season in years and qualify for the individual District One Class 3A tournament.

            "I need to focus on staying healthy," said Dockery, the team's No. 1 singles player. "Right now, I'm in a good place."

            With 14 seniors, the Tribe is poised to post one of its best seasons in recent memory, according to head coach John Williamson. He said the team has a chance to win a number of matches. According to Dockery, the team has a chance to win nearly all its matches and finish near the top of the Pioneer Athletic Conference standings. He said the players are all in on the season.  "This is a pretty talented and deep group," Williamson said.

            The group of 12^th graders, which has been playing together since ninth grade, is bonded by a strong feeling and camaraderie, according to the coach. He said they support each other amid a healthy competition.  "It's been a great start to the season," Williamson said. "We have a lot of seniors who want to win. We're going to have a good team."

            Behind Dockery, Patrick McHale is expected to start the season as the Indians No. 2 singles player. According to the coach, McHale's game has made significant strides in his second season playing the sport.  "Pat has a lot of raw ability," Williamson said. "He picked the game up so well last season. He's got a lot of raw power. He's working on developing consistency."

            Dean Miller will play at third singles, according to Williamson. Miller, who did not compete last season, will be a solid performer, the coach said.

            The doubles teams remain in flux. According to Williamson, Nick Caciolo, Ryan Miller, Kyle Smith, Andrew Nugent, Bryse Lesko, Sean Drager and junior Srikar Kathala are expected to compete for the eight spots.  "We're all in," Dockery said.

            In his bid to return to the district tournament, Dockery will prioritize making sure he remains healthy during the regular season with consistent stretching and icing. He said recent mild temperatures have allowed him to improve his serve.  "Right now, I have pretty good timing with my serve," said Dockery, who qualified for the 2A district tournament as a sophomore.

            The player has developed a game that features a mix of power and spin, according to Williamson. He said Dockery has learned not overthink the game as much.

            "Adam has finally developed a variety," the coach said. "He used to try to overpower everybody. I know he's going to continue to grow on the court, which will allow him to relax more.

            A nagging left shoulder injury, which started at the end of his sophomore season and impacted his performance as a junior, led him to develop a one-handed backhand shot.

"It's coming along," said Dockery of the shot, which he learned over the summer. "I'm getting pretty good at it. The key is focusing on the proper form. Sometimes during a match, I forget to do that."