Coming off one of its most successful seasons, the Piggott High tennis team will be looking to re-load this year in an effort to remain one of the top 3A programs in the state. The boy's and girl's teams, under the direction of long-time coach Paul Seegraves, placed two players in the meet of champions last year as both junior Hillary French and senior Blake Burkman qualified. At day's end French ended up as the state runner-up, while Burkman finished third.

French is a fourth-year senior member of the team, and a three time All-District selection. She was also named All-State the past two years and took the district singles crown both seasons. This year she's expected to once-again lead the girls team, which includes only one other player with post-season experience. That player is junior Mercedes Arnold, who was named All-District the last two years and qualified for the state tournament in doubles. The other seniors on the roster include second-year player Sierra Owen and first-year player Latrisha Reed. Rounding out the roster for the girls team is German foreign-exchange student Linda Shbauer, a junior; sophomores Chelsea Covarrubia and Elizabeth Ermert and freshmen Taylor Covert, Emily Graddy, Kasey Grissom, Kirstie Householder, Alex Scheffler and Hallie Vannada.

The boys team will be led by fourth-year player and senior Josh Small, an All-District selection last year and state tournament qualifier. Small was also district runner-up last year in singles. He's joined on the boy's squad by third year senior Zac Smart and three first year players. That group includes sophomores Trent Edwards and Mark Greaney and freshman Spencer Coomer. The team manager is Beau Alex Wicker.

"We've got a large amount of beginners," Seegraves said of this year's teams, "it will take some time to develop during the season." The coach added that playing a tough non-conference schedule will hopefully have them prepared for the district tournament.

The year the Mohawks are facing re-alignment with some new challenges in the 3A-2 tennis conference. The Brinkley Tigers join the conference along with Earle, Harding Academy and Riverview…along with former members Corning, Harrisburg and Piggott.

According to Seegraves Corning has a chance to be strong this year as they returned a lot of talent from last year's squad. The Earle Bulldogs sent their boy's team to the state tournament in 2A last year, Riverview has a new program and Harding Academy has been a strong program for many years that dominated their old district. Last year the Lion's girl's team finished fourth in the state while the boy's team was seventh. Harrisburg features a young team and is still building their program.

Meanwhile, the Mohawk girl's team is coming off back-to-back district championships and were ranked third in the state last year. The boy's team is the defending district champs as well, and finished seventh in the state rankings.

The Mohawks were scheduled to take on Harding Academy Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 26, in Jonesboro. They'll be hosting Corning on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Piggott tennis courts, and will visit Pocahontas on Sept. 15. On Sept. 23, they'll visit Corning and on Sept. 29 they'll take part in a tri-match with Cave City and Harrisburg at Jonesboro and the following day they'll play in a tri-match with Pocahontas and Highland. On Oct. 6, they'll once again take on Cave City and Highland in a tri-match at Jonesboro's Allen Park and the following day the district tournament will be held at Searcy. The state tournament is set for Oct. 20-21 in Little Rock and the state overall will be played Oct. 29-30.