Latest News

Latest News...

Don't forget about Rock Around the Court tournament

Friday, June 18th! Get your registrations in!

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Who: All

What: Rock Around the Court 50's Tournament

When: Friday, June 18th (6pm-10pm)

(Check in: 5:30pm)

Why: Because you will have SO MUCH FUN!

Do you use Twitter to keep in the know? Good news Kickapoo Boys Tennis now has updates on Twitter. Just check out https://twitter.com/KHSBoysTennis

for the latest need to know news including practice changes.

If you have any announcements or achievements that

can be put on the website, please let us know!

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NEWS BULLETIN:

Congrats to Charles Kagogo! He's the new Senior class

President for 2010-2011! Way to go, Charles!!

Congrats to Tim Hager! He's the new Sophomore class

Vice President for 2010-2011! Way to go, Tim!!

Miles Kimbrough...

Miles, 18, is a senior who has excelled on the debate team and in FBLA. He

and debate partner Sean Marren have qualified for state finals in April. He

is also active in sports.

His parents are Starr and Densel Kimbrough. He has an older sister,

Mikellah.

Q: How long have you been in debate?

A: This is my third year.

Q: You mentioned that debate is hard work and takes a lot of time, but that

it's worth it. Why is it worth it?

A: It's worth it to feel successful at something. The feeling of

accomplishment when success happens is motivating.

I also like being able to meet a bunch of new people from other schools.

Q: In addition to team debate, you also do individual debate.

A: It's oratory. Yes, I've done well in oratory this year, too. (He could

only qualify for state in one category -- team debate in this case -- for

MSHAA. However, he had a chance to qualify for state in both categories in

the National Forensics League.) Oratory is a 10-minute persuasive speech

that has an original spin on a problem.

Q: What is your topic?

A: Mine is about a lack of civility. People in society are forgetting how to

be nicer to people.

Q: How long have you been with FBLA?

A: Two years.

Q: Why did you join FBLA?

A: It was one of many organizations in which Kickapoo does well and they

like to get speech and debate students. It's also another chance to meet

people.

Q: Any plans for college?

A: I haven't decided yet. I'm looking at UMKC, William Jewell and Truman

State.

Q: What do you want to study?

A: I'm interested in motivational speaking, a little bit in psychology.

Q: What else do you like to do?

A: I play varsity tennis. I've been playing since I was a sophomore.

Q: Any tennis players you look up to?

A: I personally like Andy Roddick, he's the No. 1 American player, though

Roger Federer is amazing.

-- Cliff Sain / News-Leader

Caption: Miles Kimbrough is a Kickapoo senior who recently qualified for

state competition in debate.

Cliff Sain / News-Leader

Chiefs energetic, focused on living up to tradition...

By Allen Vaughan

For the News-Leader

Sometimes on that first day of practice, when much of the leadership has

graduated, there's a feeling-out process to determine who is going to take

over.

Not with Kickapoo High School's boys' tennis team. The current Chiefs have

been waiting a long time for this.

"This is our time," senior Daniel Park said.

Kickapoo had a 9-4 record last season, and each of the six Chiefs who played

in the district tournament were seniors. Now, coach Susan Lynch has promoted

an all-new fleet from her 11-0 junior varsity team. Only one player from

this year's team saw any time in last year's top six.

It would be easy to dismiss Kickapoo as an inexperienced, naïve group.

Instead, the players like to emphasize their eagerness.

"We don't have much (varsity) experience, but we are trying to make up for

that with focus," junior Connor Coday said.

Senior Andrew Doolittle is the only returning player with any top-six

experience after playing multiple spots within the hierarchy. Lynch calls

him a gentle personality who is a top-notch competitor.

Her varsity pecking order hasn't been determined, but Lynch said Doolittle

should have a great shot at playing No. 1.

The rest of the roster? It's a wild card.

Expected to compete for some of the top spots are Coday, junior Brandon

Cederblom and sophomore Nick Fulton. All four had occasional varsity roles

within the top eight last year.

Lynch said many of her players are fundamentally sound but don't know what

it's like to go through the rigors of a varsity season.

Also expected to vie for playing time are junior Sean Lor, freshman Tim Lor

and seniors Phong Nguyen, Miles Kimbrough, Kevin Lang and Park.

Lynch has tried to instill a mature mind-set that all of her team members

will need to survive a varsity season.

"How tough are you mentally?" Lynch said. "If a kid thumps you, how tough

are you to shake it off and come back later? That's what they need to

learn."

The Chiefs have a rich tennis tradition, one perpetuated by a state run by

the graduated doubles team of David Simon and Michael Wolski. While the

Chiefs' goals are modest, it doesn't mean optimism isn't around the corner.

"We are in a rebuilding year, there's no question," Doolittle said. "But

that doesn't mean that we aren't going to try to win and see what happens."

The Chiefs open their season March 30 at Gillenwaters with a double dual

against Hillcrest and Greenwood.

Kickapoo boys' tennis

Coach: Susan Lynch (14th season)

Last year's record: 9-4

Returning top six player (1): Andrew Doolittle, sr.

Newcomers: Daniel Park, sr.; Phong Nguyen, sr.; Miles Kimbrough, sr.; Kevin

Lang, sr.; Brandon Cederblom, jr.; Sean Lor, jr.; Nick Fulton, soph.; Tim

Lor, fresh.

Brandon Cederblom...

As the Kickapoo High School boys' tennis team looks to replace its entire district squad from a season ago, Brandon Cederblom is playing a pivotal role.

After playing a handful of varsity matches last year, Cederblom, a junior, has risen to Kickapoo's No. 1 singles spot and also is playing No. 2 doubles alongside Miles Kimbrough.

We chatted with Cederblom -- who is also active in organizations like Future Business Leaders of America, Youth Alive, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes --about Kickapoo's rebuilding process and the role of smack-talking in tennis.

Q: What has it been like working to replace the entire district team from last season?

A: "The biggest thing about not having that experience is the mental game, because you've got to learn to cope with that, especially when you know that your game actually counts for the team. So the biggest thing is just the mental game, and since we don't have that experience our mental game kind of stinks. You can tell when we get into games, you know, we're working on it a lot. We play a ton of games that actually count for our positions, and that's just the experience you need."

Q: How would you describe your game?

A: "Speed. I'm a small guy and, you know, I'm not the strongest, but I can get to everything ... no matter where they hit it, I can generally get to it."

Q: What steps have you taken to enhance that speed?

A: "At times, I wear weights sometimes when I play and stuff like that. That almost seems like a childish thing, but sometimes it actually works, so there's been times where I've worn weights. I do run around a ton generally when I play, and I do a quick step the entire game (so) whenever they go to serve or get ready to, I'm back on one foot and another. That helps me because I'm already moving."

Q: What's the best way to get your mind off tennis?

A: "I just like hanging out with my friends, playing video games. I'm also a big reader; I love reading. Sometimes we'll go and we'll play tennis on the (Nintendo) Wii or something like that. It's kind of interesting because there's no skill base, but it's always fun."

Q: What's your favorite video game?

A: "Super Smash Bros., just because it's the best four-player game ever, and you can get with your friends, you know. We all have it, so we love getting together, smack-talking each other."

Q: You mention smack-talk. Is there a place for that in tennis?

A: "Oh, my goodness, is there a place for smack-talk! You wouldn't think so, but, yeah. ... (Tennis) takes total concentration, and if your mental game gets off, you know, it's bad. So smack-talk, a lot of times opponents will use it because that will get you that one little edge."

Q: What are your goals for the season?

A: "I need a second serve. ... That'll help my game. And (I need to improve) my return of serve because, again, I'm not the strongest player."

-- Michael Stacy