From left, GHS students Aubrey Mangan, Beck Stewart and Shawnacy McGilvray will be able to continue playing tennis this coming school year. Photo by Cindy Scott

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The tennis teams have been reinstated at Gridley High School.

To recap, the announcement was made at the board meeting on May 28, that the tennis teams were being cut. Reasons for the discontinuation were given as the teams being too small, too expensive and too hard to get coaches for, according to the administrators.

Principal Rikki-Lee Burresch indicated that students requested new girls’ flag football and boys’ volleyball teams, and that tennis must be sacrificed to make way for the new sports. Another concern was the condition of the 75-year-old tennis courts and the cost for repairing them.  

After hearing from a number of unhappy Gridley residents at the board meeting on June 26, the Gridley Unified School District opted to continue the teams and accepted former coach Robert McDowell’s offer to coach for two years. The pay McDowell would receive will go back into supporting the teams.

McDowell plans to start practices as soon as possible, but is getting the necessary background check and other requirements completed before starting. The school board will officially vote on the appointment at the meeting to be held Aug. 13.

Regarding the condition of the courts, McDowell said that while there were problems, the courts were functional.

In addition, players routinely switch sides while playing to offset any advantages or disadvantages. Linda McDowell also shared previously that a grant of up to $55,000 for court repair was available from the US Tennis Association.