Hard work has been a constant of the Bucktail Bucks varsity tennis team, a program as consistent as any in high school sports over the last 13 years.

Since 2007, Coaches Dan and Allison Heiser have led Bucktail with winning records every season.

And with a 5-0 opening win over Muncy already this season, the goal hasn’t changed.

This year more than ever the benefits of the system are obvious in its two lone seniors, Christina Delatorre and Angela Intallura.

The two have participated in Heiser tennis for years and their progress has been consistent, setting up their pivotal roles as team leaders this year when teams need direction more than ever in such an uncertain time to be playing.

“Christina is our No. 1 seed and it’s so great to see someone that has battled, worked and clawed her way to the top to now sitting at that spot,” said Dan Heiser. “Christina has put in the time and effort for four years. She’s earned and deserved her spot.”

“Angela is another four-year player who has earned her way to a starting spot. She and Christina are in the perfect situation to be excellent players and leaders for this year with Allison and I having such a young team,” Heiser continued.

Bucktail finished 8-2 last year in the Midd Penn as they play a crossover schedule with a couple of Northern Tier League teams.

The team has a 10-game schedule for 2020, but time will tell if every scheduled match will be played.

Sophomore Kayla Probert is the Nov. 2 seed and Emma Poorman is No. 3, while Intallura and Bella English make up the first doubles team.

The second doubles team will see Kori Prebble be a partner to the rotating freshmen duo of Mackenzie Wagner and Alexis Lowery.

“Allison in particular loves what she’s seeing in the underclassmen,” Dan explained.

“Right down to Mackenzie and Alexis, the two are so equal, which leads to them pushing each other and making them both that much better off for the competition their seeing in-team.”

Heiser said the 5-0 win against Muncy was big for so many factors outside of a normal match.

“We were home; there are so many crazy jitters due to the uncertainty of the season. Christina dropped her first set but came back and won the next two, it kind of defined the day for the whole team, they all hung in there and got the win.”

Bucktail will play their first road match today and will return to Farwell on Monday when they host Towanda.