New faces, old faces

By BENJAMIN TOMCZAK

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Spring has finally come to Minnesota, but that makes no difference to the snow. The tennis courts, as well as the campus of Martin Luther College, are still covered by piles of the white stuff.

Yet, despite this impediment, the Knights' mens tennis team is set and ready to go for another season of competition. MLC's season opens today as the men travel to Duluth to face off against St. Scholastica, starting at 5 p.m.

"We have a strong team," Knight coach Arlen Koestler said, "and it's going to get stronger as the season goes on."

The Knights, who went 9-3 last year, and 2-2 in UMAC play, lost four key players, but are returning many of the pieces of their successful team and even bringing back a couple of old faces in order to shake things up.

Three Knights -- Nate Bourman, Jeremy Mattek and Dave Olson -- were lost to graduation, and junior Mark Ehlke decided not to go out this season. But more importantly the Knights have back on the courts two former No. 1 players in Kevin Ehlke and Dan Olson.

Ehlke, a fifth-year senior, was the Knight's No. 1 singles player for two years before taking an emergency call. Olson, a No. 1 two years ago, returns after a year off.

The return of those two has put Koestler into an enviable position and he knows it. "I've got four guys who could be playing number one; that's a pretty nice situation," he said.

The two other No. 1 contenders are sophomores Karl Valleskey and Mike Novotny.

Adding to the depth are three freshmen, each looking to make an impact. Josh Olson, the younger brother of Dan, Luther Tollefson, and Jeremy Laitinen all hope to leave their mark on the record books at MLC. Another youngster hoping to crack the team is sophomore Jesse Stern. "It's going to be a good challenge," Stern said, commenting on the frosh he'll be battling for a spot. "I think it's a good team and there's a lot of talent. The freshmen look good."

Says Valleskey, "We did lose four guys, but we have other guys stepping up who didn't play or weren't here, like the Olsons."

Speaking of Olsons, older brother Dan commented on his, and the team's, readiness. "We're pretty ready. I've gotten better in the last couple weeks." Talking about Scholastica, Dan said, "we can give them a run for their money. They shouldn't expect a Joe Blow community college-type team. We are a college with college-type potential and with solid NCAA type play."

Olson also commented, "our team motto is 'Power!' The harder you hit the ball, the more you win. You scare the opponent into victory."

Can MLC come home with a conference championship this year? "I'm not going to stretch out like that," Koestler said. "I tell the guys they have to be confident when they play."

With confidence and power as their motto, the return of Olson and Ehlke and the advent of some youngsters, MLC tennis should be a force to be reckoned with.