While the unseasonal cold and wet weather has slowed the progress of spring sports, the Aberdeen Central boys’ tennis team is actually ahead of schedule.

The Golden Eagles start their season with a total of four matches today and Friday at the West River Invitational in Rapid City, and they appear to be ready to go.

“Even though we haven’t been able to be outside for practice, I think we’re further along than we are in a lot of years,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz.

There are a couple of reasons for that, the main one being time spent playing indoors this winters and staying close to the game.

“I think we’ve made better strides as far as skill level from the end of last season to the beginning of this season than we have in several of my years here,” Kurtz said. “We had more kids that played this winter.”

Not only that, but the Eagles feature a squad comprised of multi-sport athletes who are never really out of shape.

“Athletically, we’re further along that we usually are at the start,” Kurtz said.

Central will be led by eighth-grader Mitchell Hofer, who is jumping from third flight singles to top flight this season. While young, Hofer is experienced and has played in numerous tournaments throughout the Midwest this winter.

“It’s a big jump up. Playing number one is a big step up and especially for an eighth-grader,” Kurtz said, “but I haven’t had many kids in my decade of being the head coach here that have put in as much high level tournament play during the off season as he has.”

While Hofer will be facing the state’s elite players, Kurtz believes that he will be able to handle it.

“He’s been playing some really high level kids and doing really well,” Kurtz said. “It’s a really big jump and it’s a really big jump for a middle schooler, but if anybody’s going to be ready for it, I think he’ll be that guy.”

AJ Prehn will also jump up two spots going from fourth flight singles to second. He will once again team with Hofer, moving from second flight doubles to number one.

Former soccer teammates Sekou Gogue and Jack Riggs will man the third and fourth flight singles spots, respectively, and will form the second flight doubles tandem.

“They get along so well,” Kurtz said. “They’re great leaders and they’re really good friends. I think they’re going to fit really well.”

Preston Kreber moves into a varsity position this year and will play at number five singles and third flight doubles.

The sixth flight singles position will be manned by Hunter Miller in Rapid City. He will team with Gannon Pederson for third flight doubles this weekend.

Kurtz said that the bottom of the lineup could change as there are a couple of other players in the mix, including Sam Casper and Jack Bain.

“We’ve got some options there for some depth at three doubles,” Kurtz said.

Central will face Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Christian today, and then St. Thomas More and Rapid City Central on Friday.

“I’m excited for this weekend just to see where we are,” Kurtz said.