The Wyoming Area tennis teams have not had courts to call home for years.
The Warriors do not have a winning tradition on which to fall back.
Until recently, they have not had much internal competition for spot in the lineup.
None of that has stopped Wyoming Area from making a move up in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
The Warriors went into the weekend third out of 12 teams in the standings, having already assured themselves of their first winning season since 2012.
Coach Bill Roberts has led the program back through the difficult rebuilding process, but Roberts points to the enthusiasm of his older players and their willingness to share it with younger students at the school as playing a major role in the improvement.
Including Monday’s 4-1 win over rival Pittston Area, the Warriors were 6-2 going into Friday’s match at Tunkhannock.
The win over the Patriots, who are rebuilding after being the WVC’s top Class 3A team a year ago, is the first for the Warriors in the rivalry since that last winning season in 2012.
In the time since, Wyoming Area had two seasons – 2013 and 2016 – in which it lost every match. In another, the program’s low point, Austin Alder practiced alone most days without a teammate and the Warriors dropped out of the WVC without enough players for a team to compete against other schools in 2015.
“I think it’s that the players themselves believe in the program now,” Roberts said. “Last year, they were out there every single day.
“If we weren’t having practice, they were going out somewhere and finding courts to practice themselves.”
Wyoming Area had just six total tennis wins in five years prior to rising to .500 at 5-5 last year.
One doubles player graduated and top singles player Justin Alder moved away, but the rest of the players returned and they made sure the roster continued to grow.
“They were out all summer,” Roberts said. “At least five of them were out almost every other day in the summer hitting.
“They have a desire to win and they believe in the program. I think that’s a great thing. All the older players this year brought all those newer players out.”
High school teams need seven players to put a complete match lineup together – Pittston Area has been forced to forfeit at least one point in matches this season. Wyoming Area has grown its roster from nine to 11 to 13 to 15 in the years since it could not compete.
It has done so with help from its neighbor and rival.
“Pittston Area has been really gracious,” Roberts said. “We’ve been using their courts for home matches. It’s been working out fine.”
Roberts said Wyoming Area’s most common practice routine is to head to those same Mattei Middle School courts after Pittston Area is done for the day.
By starting practices after 5 p.m., it actually has helped participation, allowing time for players who have work commitments or other after-school interests.
The happy, dedicated team has been thriving.
Nick Perry was 1-2 at second singles and 5-0 at third singles going into Friday. Both doubles teams were also 6-2.
Perry defeated Peter Fox from Pittston Area, 6-0, 6-2, Monday at second singles.
Mike Abromovage-Jake Butwin topped Zac Gregory-Sal Turonis at first doubles, 6-0, 6-1.
With an additional Pittston Area player unavailable Monday, Wyoming Area’s other two points came by forfeit.
Patrick Musinski-Adam Wisnewski, the winning second doubles team, received one of the forfeits.
Luke Warunek missed some time from the lineup, but is back and playing second singles.
Mike Remley has gone 3-4 while taking on the challenge of playing other team’s strongest players at first singles.
Adam Musto gave Pittston Area’s its point in Monday’s match with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Remley.
