The present and future of Chilton County High tennis was on display yesterday during the Tigers’ 8-1, season-opening win over Wetumpka (0-2).

The present is the trio of junior Michael Elder and seniors Andy Foshee and Cody Jones—the top three players on the team that hope to lead the program to its first state tournament appearance.

“They looked great,” assistant coach Christy Moran said about yesterday’s performances. “They were ready for the competition.”

Elder, playing in the No. 1 singles spot, suffered the only oss of the day, 8-5, to Scott Hubbard.

But CCHS was victorious in the other four singles matches and all three doubles matches.

Also seniors are No. 4 player Cody Cummings and usual No. 5 Nathan Gray, who didn’t play yesterday, so it’s easy to see why the program’s future is also a concern.

That’s where sophomore David Smith and 7th grader Nicholas Lyn come in. Smith won his singles match, 8-4, over Wetumpka’s Chandler Hawkins. Lyn and Justin Mims, who made up the No. 3 doubles team, won 8-4.

“He loves to be out there,” Moran said about Lyn. “He definitely has the potential to carry the team when he gets into his high school years.”