The expectations have changed to the point that a massive roster overhaul doesn’t dampen expectations — internally or externally.
Platte County goes into this season minus four graduated seniors and the player who opened 2023 at No. 4 not back from a devastating knee injury expected to keep her out the entire season. The Pirates have just six seniors and one junior on a roster of 30 with only two having any varsity experience.
Yet, Platte County also comes back after earning the first team playoff berth in program history and putting two doubles teams in the Class 2 MSHSAA Tennis Championships after an intrasquad Class 2 District 8 final.
“In terms of experience, we haven’t had a team this inexperienced since year one of our program,” Platte County veteran coach Zach Keith said. “We have a lot of learning and growing to do. I’m so proud of the way these girls have worked in the offseason to put themselves in this position, and I’m looking forward to working with them this season to see what they can achieve.”
Platte County returns seniors Maggie McBratney and Lily Fish from last year’s starting lineup. McBratney played No. 1 as a sophomore and No. 2 as a junior, having reached the Class 2 District 8 semifinal in singles last fall before finishing fourth.
Fish played at No. 5 and also played the individual district tournament in singles.
However, the majority of Platte County’s lineup ended up being seniors — No. 1 Addy Mayne, No. 3 Olivia Holbrook, No. 6 Delany Bachmann and No. 7 Lucy McClain. Mayne and Holbrook became the Pirates’ first two-time state qualifiers having also advanced to state as juniors on separate teams. Bachmann and McClain found a rhythm late in the season and earned a dramatic semifinal victory to also reach the district final.
Both teams went 0-2 at state.
Platte County’s lineup looked different early last fall when junior Summer Jenni opened at No. 4 only to see her season end with a knee injury in a dual with Staley. She has not recovered and her unfortunate scenario only adds to the uncertainty for Keith.
“The formula is simple: rely on Maggie’s experience to lead the team early while we baptize the rest of the crew in the fire of competition to prepare them for success late in the season,” he said. “But seriously, this is a team that will be forced to ‘grow up’ really fast, but I think we have the right level of competition on our schedule to allow for that to happen. If these girls embrace the fact that they will have to compete hard, learn from matches against quality competition, and maintain positive energy and momentum throughout the season, we could be dangerous by the time the district tournament rolls around.”
Platte County expects sophomore Ellie Kaser to slot in at No. 2 behind McBratney while Fish, senior Jackie Frame, sophomores Lillian Goodale and Veyda Chleborad and freshman Macie Keith to fill out the lineup. In fact, all seven could see team after McClain went from likely doubles-only starter last season to No. 6 after Jenni’s injury.
Kaser played No. 3 in the junior varsity lineup last season, while Goodale, Chleborad and Macie Keith were on the C team.
“(Kaser is a) tremendous athlete who has taken her game to the next level,” Zach Keith said. “(Jackie, Lillian, Veyda and Macie) worked really hard in the offseason to improve their game.”
Forced to shuffle after only a week last season, Platte County went 9-5 with the established top six and beat St. Pius X 5-4 in the Class 2 District 8 final to reach the playoffs for the first time. The final loss came by a score of 5-0 in the state quarterfinals on the road against Thomas Jefferson Independent.
Platte County also finished second in Suburban Conference White Division play due to a 9-0 defeat in the regular season matchup with Grain Valley.
