return link

Ockenfels Back To Guide Tennis Team

Jun 25, 2018 | Sports & Recreation, Tennis

R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
Players work through drills during Trenton’s high school girls tennis camp, which opened on Monday at the THS tennis courts. Tammy Ockenfels, who is returning to coach the team this fall, is directing the camp which runs through the end of the week.

This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:

Find out how to advertise here – Email us! [email protected]

In 2011, fresh off of a district championship, Tammy Ockenfels stepped down as the Trenton High School girls tennis coach. The move was made so she could focus on her own childrens’ high school sports careers. With her youngest graduating in May, Ockenfels opened the door to returning to coaching at Trenton. The timeing couldn’t have worked out better as Trenton just happened to need a girls tennis coach.
So, Ockenfels will return to guide the Bulldogs in 2018.
“I’ve been waiting for my two kids to graduate,” Ockenfels said of her return to coaching. “The opportunity arose when Mrs. (Bobbie) Hainey had her baby and the position was open again. I was ready to come back.”
Ockenfels guided the program for a three-year stretch from 2009-2011. After a transition year, she led the Bulldogs to a 14-7 season in 2010, with the team finishing as runner-up at districts before winning the title in 2011 – a season that saw Trenton go 11-6.
Trenton is once again coming off of a district championship, but Ockenfels will take over what is a rebuilding program after the Bulldogs’ top four players from last season graduated in May. Emma Gilham was the team’s five player last year and Latorrie Johnson and Elle Neal also saw varsity time at number six. Those players will be vaulted up the lineup this year, though, as the Bulldogs break ground on a new era.
One of the first steps to transitioning back to Ockenfels’ leadership is the team’s summer camp, which opened on Monday morning at the THS tennis courts. Ockenfels knows the task that lies ahead, but is up for the challenge.
“It’s very important,” Ockenfels said of the camp. “I have three who played last year and are here and all of the other ones are new. But, they have been coming to open court this year, so they have already had some practice. They are coming along great and I’m looking forward to the season.”
The camp runs through the end of the week, meeting from 8 to 9:30 a.m. each day. Trenton will open the 2018 season on Tuesday, Aug. 28 as it plays host to the Carrollton Trojans at the THS tennis courts.