Glen Lake tennis will be embarking on a new season with a veteran team and a new coach.
As of this printing, Glen Lake coach Johnny Voss is a first year head coach, and an undefeated one, as the Lakers won 5-3 in a match against Haslett over the weekend.
“I called my dad after the match and told him we won. My dad said ‘you’re an undefeated coach,” Voss said.
Voss found the job through a mutual contact with assistant coach Bob Sutherland after David Grahams retired.
Voss recently graduated from Hope College, where he starred in tennis.
Voss, a Cincinnati native, has been teaching tennis at the Leland Country Club for the past two summers. His parents bought a cottage in Leland nearly a decade ago.
“I didn’t really have many plans for after graduation. My plan was to spend one more summer in northern Michigan. The next thing you know, (Bob Sutherland) reached out to me, and I was like, absolutely.”
Voss admits there isn’t a better situation to step in than this one as the Lakers are primed to compete for a team state championship and several individual state titles as well.
“We’ve got some amazing players out here and it makes me super happy for the whole team. I’m really happy to have players who are at a level of ability,” Voss said. “These guys have a great team and it’s their year to turn it up.
I told the team it’s up to you guys. If you guys really want this, you’re going to work as hard as you can. It is possible. It’s achievable.”
Glen Lake is looking to improve upon a fourth place finish at states last year.
Glen Lake will be returning several players as Colebrook Sutherland and Michael Houtteman are poised to capture a team state championship as well as individual titles in division 4.
“Everyone’s eyes are kind of set on a team state championship, as well as a few individuals for us. We’re trying to work hard for it,” Sutherland said.
Houtteman added that the team has to, “Show up to practice every day, play hard every match and keep improving.”
