ORWIGSBURG - Blue Mountain's Aubrey Abel never saw it coming.
What started out as a few shin splints during track season last spring turned into a stress fracture that required her to be off her leg for more than two months.
With the high school girls' tennis season fast approaching, Abel faced uncertainty.
"I was worried," Abel said. "I didn't think it would be completely well by tennis season. I'm a person that likes to move constantly, and I didn't think I would be able to stay off of it for that long."
Abel did stay off her leg and was only allowed to bike during her recovery period. By the end of June, Abel was ready to get back on the court, but she knew missing valuable practice time would set her back.
"I'm a little nervous for the season, but I feel good," Abel said. "I'm trying to stay positive."
Last October, the 16-year-old reached the final at the District 11 Class AA Singles Tournament, finishing as the runner-up for the second straight season.
She capped last season with a league record of 11-3. Her overall singles record for her career is 40-9.
Even coming off her injury, the junior has high hopes for her third season.
"I would like to reach the finals again at districts," Abel said. "It would be my third time in the district finals, and I lost the two previous times so I'm hoping I can pull through and finally win this time."
Abel knows that she enters the season behind other standout players, so in order to be more prepared both physically and mentally she is training every morning along with every night.
That's something she has never done before.
"I've been going to the Wyomissing area and training for about three hours in the morning,'' Abel said. "I have been doing that for three weeks now.''
With the high school season beginning today, it's time for Abel to start testing herself against live-match competition.
"I think she has a very good shot, and by the time we get to the postseason, I do not see why she couldn't move on,'' Blue Mountain coach Mark Abel said of his daughter.
"It's a consistency and mental toughness factor."
Blue Mountain plays in the competitive Berks League. The toughest matches for the Eagles likely will be against Berks Catholic on Aug. 28 and last year's state champions, Wyomissing, on Sept. 25.
"Those teams will be the toughest for Aubrey and the entire team," Mark Abel said. "They usually have a lot of depth."
Blue Mountain is lacking in young depth, and for the first time ever, there are zero freshmen.
Senior Lauren Haupt will return as a singles player, along with fellow senior Lucia Field. Also returning for Blue Mountain are Julia Hahn and Alexa Hahn.
"If we win, it's perseverance,'' Mark Abel said, "putting one more ball back in play and a lot more of a fight."
Elsewhere in the area:
- Hamburg - The Hawks are a team on the rise with 21 on the varsity, including the return of the Nos. 2-7 singles players. Sophomore Melanie Haas and junior Brooke Buckley top the ladder.
Hamburg finished 10th in the District 3 power rankings last season.
"We have a chance for a good season if our luck holds out and we remain injury-free,'' coach Bill Tritt said. "We are consistently good through No. 8 and have some future promise with nine freshmen on the team.
"I am looking forward to this year,'' he added. "All our team members are quality kids.''
- Jim Thorpe - The big news for the Olympians is the return of Gabbie Binder at No. 1 singles. She missed last season with a torn ACL.
"This will make our team stronger all the way down the lineup,'' coach Norb Lienhard said.
With 19 players, Jim Thorpe's turnout was strong. And with eight seniors, the team should show improvement from a year ago.
- Pottsville - The Crimson Tide took a step in the right direction last fall under coach Andrew Smink, who's looking for even better days in his second season.
The Tide return No. 1 Rachel Shields, No. 2 Rebecca Ohnmacht, No. 4 Caitlin Croley and doubles player Laura Dallago. They're all seniors and team leaders.
"The team, overall, is energetic and enthusiastic about this season,'' Smink said. "We're looking really good. We have a lot of returning players.
"We're really looking forward to this season,'' he added. "Last year was a big step from what the program had been doing for a while.''
- Tamaqua - The Blue Raiders lost a lot to graduation, but they return senior No. 1 Sarah Zoba and experienced doubles players Carly Fenstermacher and Madelyn Dolinsky.
"These varsity experienced girls will be leading the team throughout the season with their knowledge of the game,'' coach Jennel Yelito said. "As a team, we are looking to fill the gaps of graduating seniors from last year and work hard to develop strong singles and doubles positions in the lineup.'' Blue Mountain
Coach: Mark Abel (9th season)
Last year: 16-5, 8-3 Berks II. Berks League quarterfinalist, District 11 Class AA semifinalist
Returnees: Aubrey Abel (jr.), Lauren Haupt (sr.), Lucia Field (sr.), Natalie Koury (sr.), Julia Hahn (jr.), Erica Seitzinger (jr.), Alexa Hahn (jr.), Samantha Ross (jr.), Anna Falco (soph.), Nina Bretz (soph.)
Newcomers: Brittany Ernest (jr.)
Outlook: Though coming back from an injury, Abel is an established No. 1 player. Overall experience and lack of depth are issues for the Eagles, who will need other returning players to step up.
Hamburg
Coach: Bill Tritt (9th season)
Last year: 11-7, 5-6 Berks III
Returnees: Katie Harris (sr.), Monique Brunnelle (sr.), Stacy Sowers (sr.), Brittany Ebeling (sr.), Brooke Buckley (jr.), Victoria Kissinger (jr.), Kristen Wade (jr.), Caroline Bashore (jr.), Hannah Hungerford (jr.), Melanie Haas (soph.)
Newcomers: Nine freshmen. Names not provided.
Outlook: Hawks don't have elite players, but they have good ones - and a lot of them. Using that depth will be key to success. Could improve last year's record and climb District 3 ladder.
Jim Thorpe
Coach: Norb Lienhard (18th season)
Last year: 3-12
Returnees: Bryanna Kehrli (sr.), Haley Cope (sr.), Maria Donati (sr.), Minke Pheiffer (sr.), Gabbie Binder (jr.)
Newcomers: Rudy Jackson (sr.), Jamie Hartmann (sr.), Brenna Covelens (sr.), Thirzita Buell (sr.), Britani Ward (jr.), Hope Damian (soph.), Emily Layden (soph.), Autumn Holt (soph.), Victoria Salerno (soph.), Amber Cavallaro (soph.), Jessica Laurer (fr.), Lauren Hill (fr.), Marni Quevedo (fr.), Ellana Adames (fr.)
Outlook: Binder, who missed last season with a torn ACL, steps back in at No. 1 singles. Olympians have experience at six of seven starting spots. With turnout of 19, Jim Thorpe should improve. A .500 record is a realistic goal.
Pottsville
Coach: Andrew Smink (2nd season)
Last year: 3-14, 2-9 Berks II
Returnees: Rachel Shields (sr.), Rebecca Ohnmacht (sr.), Caitlin Croley (sr.), Laura Dallago (sr.)., Gabbi Holley (sr.)
Newcomers: Corinne Bricker (sr.), Brooke Hanzok (jr.), Rachel Salata (jr.), Taylor Shaak (jr.), Katrina Whalen (soph.), Sarah Williams (jr.), Amanda Brennan (soph.), Alison Stine (jr.)
Outlook: After going winless in 2011, Smink guided Tide to three victories, including two in league. With a lot of returning talent, Pottsville looks to improve last year's record and climb toward .500.
Tamaqua
Coach: Jennel Yelito (5th season)
Last year: 8-10, District 11 Class AA quarterfinalist
Returnees: Carly Fenstermacher (sr.), Sarah Zoba (sr.), Madelyn Dolinsky (jr.)
Newcomers: Brooke DeHart (jr.), Olivia Morrison (jr.), Beth Kistler (jr.), Sage Frey (soph.), Arienne Serniak (soph.), Amy Gardiner (soph.), Allison Pedersen (soph.), Emma Osenbach (soph.), Jazmina Mena (soph.), Madison Davis (soph.), Keyla Saez (fr.)
Outlook: Raiders return No. 1 player in Zoba and a pair of doubles starters, but will have to replace heavy graduation losses. Young team (two seniors) will look to improve as season goes along and build for future.