A few years removed from not even having a team, the Pella Christian boys tennis program has set big goals for the 2023 season.

The Eagles, who surprised many last season, made it to Substate as a team last spring and had an individual State Qualifier in Alejo Marcon. Having gotten a taste of success in 2022, the Pella Christian boys have their sights set on getting back to Substate and possibly further. One thing driving those hopes is the experience returning to the team. Eagles Head Coach Aaron Fitzgerald says that the squad is already ahead of where they were this time last year and believes that will benefit the team throughout the season.

“We’ve already talked a lot about strategy and match play with those returners and you know this point last year we were still focusing on some basic technique things. And so, it’s exciting to start these guys off at that level so early in our season and guys just seem to be taking it more seriously this year. They know where they want to be. They know that having gotten to the Substate level last year, that’s somewhere they want to be. And as we continue to develop not just the skills but the strategic elements of the match play, guys just want to get better.”

The Pella Christian boys tennis team begins their season Tuesday with a home match against Centerville at 4:15 p.m.