Lyons High JV Tennis,

Participate in "Goodwill" Meet in Chapman

by Dennis Gonzales & The Lyons News

September 29, 2008

Members of the Lyons High junior varsity tennis team traveled to Chapman for a "goodwill" tennis meet. Lyons schedules a meet every year with the Wamego junior varsity team, which is coached by Amanda Jantz. Mrs. Jantz is the daughter of Lyons High tennis coach Vickie Folck and sister of LHS coach Lindsey Folck.

"We call it the Folck versus Folck meet," Vickie Folck noted. "This year the Chapman coach approached Amanda and asked if their team could participate as they could use a boost after the devastating tornado in June.

"They volunteered to host the meet if we would just come and share the fun." Junior varsity players from Wamego and Chapman joined the Lyons players. Everyone plays. In doubles, the players are teamed with players from other schools.

"This meet was all about getting our players some experience, fellowship and fun," Vickie Folck said. "Wamego and Lyons brought pot luck food items and we all joined in a picnic style supper with everyone at the meet.

"It was amazing to see the destruction all around us. They have come a long way with cleanup, but have a long way to go in rebuilding." Folck went on to say that the tennis courts in the middle of town were cleared of debris immediately to serve as the command central.

"The fence has been replaced and the nets were donated by USTA," the coach added. "The courts will be resurfaced at a later time. Most of their equipment has been donated by other schools.

"The Chapman coach, who also teaches physics, shared that classes are outside on sidewalks when the weather is nice. Otherwise they are in trailers." The tornado destroyed 75 percent of the high school.