Following up inarguably the best season in program history comes with obvious challenges.
Platte County must replace Gavin Nichols, who spent the majority of four seasons as a star No. 1 while rewriting the team’s record books, and three other valuable seniors after a run to the Class 2 state title match. Half of the singles lineup does return, tasked with living up to a new expectation to advance the Pirates’ standing as an elite team.
“I hope everyone thinks that we won’t be any good now that Gavin has graduated,” Platte County veteran coach Zach Keith somewhat jokingly commented.
Platte County went 16-4 in 2024, claiming both the Suburban Conference White Division and Class 2 District 8 titles for the second straight year. The Pirates then won three straight playoff duals before a 5-1 loss to MICDS in the championship match, resulting in a historic second-place finish.
While Nichols led the way, Platte County brings back seniors Jack Bralley, Hayden Cook and Paul Havemeier to anchor this year’s lineup. Bralley enters his fourth season as a starter after playing No. 2 singles as a junior, while Cook’s first year in the starting lineup saw him at No. 3. They also teamed up and earned a state berth in doubles as the Class 2 District 8 runnerup. They went on to become the second doubles team in program history to medal, placing eighth.
Havemeier played No. 6 singles as part of a unique lineup.
Nichols earned state medals in three of his four seasons as the only singles state qualifier in Platte County’s history, which dates to 2009. He won the Class 2 District 8 title each season and placed sixth as a sophomore and seventh in his first and last seasons.
In addition to Nichols, Platte County also graduated No. 4 Aaron Vaughan, No. 5 Daniel Bunge and Quentin Miller, who played No. 3 doubles. Cook, Vaughan, Bunge and Havemeier were all first-year contributors a year ago for the Pirates.
Keith must find at least three new starters this season with Platte County looking to build on the first two team district titles in program history and make another postseason run.
“It’s impossible to get a taste of the team state final four and not want to get back there,” Keith said. “There will certainly be solid competition from teams like Grain Valley and other depending on district alignment, but we’ve got a great group of guys returning, and several who will be able to enter the lineup and make an impact right away.”
Those looking to crack Platte County’s starting lineup this year include seniors Will Kimlinger and Jake Diano, sophomores Mitchel McBratney and Jacoby Keith and freshman Jackson Kluck. McBratney saw limited varsity time last year and played a solid No. 1 singles at the junior varsity level for the Pirates, who have started to develop the depth necessary for a perennial contender.
Kimlinger and Diano have also made a big push up the team rankings. Zach Keith said Kimlinger has shown incredible aptitude as a doubles players, while Diano dedicated himself to the sport over the past year to earn additional opportunity.
Kluck and Jacoby Keith lack on-court experience but have shown potential through natural athletic ability.
The pieces must come together for Platte County in a new way. Nichols became a top-tier individual player to provide confidence in the top singles and doubles match of every dual, but the Pirates must find balance top to bottom and develop a new winning formula.
“(We can’t) worry about replacing Gavin with any one person, but rather approaching every dual and tournament as an opportunity for every guy to get their point for the team,” Zach Keith said. “That’s what our approach will have to be as a team. (We need to develop) a bunch of Swiss Army Knife doubles players who are able to play with any partner at any number in the lineup depending on matchups.”
Last year, Platte County found footing with very specific doubles teams but might use more experimentation throughout the season to determine to an eventual lineup and postseason setup both as a team and for individual district entrants. Bralley boasts by far the most experience, having gone to state in doubles as a sophomore and junior. He went 1-2 as a sophomore with Jaron Cook, older brother of Hayden Cook.
Nichols, Bralley and Nathan Vanek are Platte County’s only individuals with more than one state appearance in program history. The last three years have produced the majority of state opportunities for the program. The Pirates’ only qualifiers before Nichols won the singles district tile as a freshman were the doubles team of Ethan Savage and Aaron Stout in 2010.
Platte County has now sent a singles players in four straight seasons and at least one doubles team each of the past three, sending both district entrants in 2023. Only the finalists advance to state.
Deciding on how to pursue those individual opportunities only occurs with a specific buy-in Platte County’s program continues to define.
“Maintain a focus on improvement as a team throughout the season,” Zach Keith said. “We were able to do that last year because we had leaders like Gavin and Daniel Bunge who consistently reminded the guys of our team goals and our potential as a team.”
