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PITTSTON — Amanda Wascavich spent four years as a tennis player for Pittston Area in the early 2000s. Now she’s taking over the program.
After four years in an assistant role, the 2005 PA graduate and former East Stroudsburg University tennis player will lead the Patriots for the first time heading into the 2015 campaign.
She is currently a math teacher at Pittston Area.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m up for the challenge and I have a great group of kids that I am familiar with. I’m excited about my new role.”
Wascavich will have to carry Pittston Area into the season without the Woodruff twins, who were the Patriots’ top two players. Trent and Tyler Woodruff were four-year starters for the Patriots and graduated in 2014.
Individually, the brothers qualified for the District 2 tournament. Trent made the final eight, while Tyler won his first round match. As a doubles team, the duo fell in the second round of the tournament.
Wascavich started her assistant coaching career when the two were freshman.
“They added a lot to our program and they were year-around players,” Wascavich said. “We took a hit there.”
Not only did the Patriots lose the twins, they also lost three other seniors, including No. 3 starter Terry Briggs, to graduation.
Filling the gap for this season will be senior Christian Charney and junior Jonathan Durling, doubles partners last season who are expected to be Pittston Area’s No. 1 and No. 2 players this year.
Wascavich said Jason Homschek is expected to fill the No. 3 spot, although nothing is set in stone yet.
“That could change,” she said. “Sam Mayhoff is looking really good.”
James Galonis and Delmar Guziewicz, along with a host of Patriots, will look to fill the two doubles spots. However, the depth the Patriots had in the past won’t be there.
“We want depth in our starting lineup and we may not have the depth we did last year,” Wascavich said. “We’ll be a little lacking. They want to play so they are going to get better with the willingness.”
Despite the team’s loss of players, Pittston Area will lean on the experience and positive attitude Wascavich brings to the table.
That could be a strength, she said.
“I think we’re going to surprise some teams,” she said. “We lost a chunk of players but we have a lot of that are looking to step into starting roles. We’re looking to have fun and be competitive.”
Pittston Area has five seniors this season: Charney, Galonis, Cody Holl, Cameron Ianniccari and Patrick Cadden. Holl, Ianniccari and Hayden are expected to make a push into the starting lineup.
The Patriots start their season on Wednesday at Tunkhannock. Pittston Area’s first three matches are away before returning to Hughestown on Wednesday, April 1 against Crestwood.