Metamora entered the 2000 season with only two returning players who had ever won a varsity match (Andy Gravlin and Chad Whittington).  The squad had zero seniors and just four juniors.  The Redbirds played a singles line-up consisting usually of two juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen, the last of which had never played an official competitive tennis match until the season began.

In the Mid-Illini Conference, Morton and Dunlap had two of the best teams in the histories of their schools.  The Potters were 14-0 and won every tournament in which they competed during the season prior to the state series.  Included among their wins was a victory over Richwoods, believed to be a first for Morton.  Dunlap was nearly as good, losing 5-4 twice to Morton, finishing second at the Galesburg Sectional and advancing four players to the state tournament.  East Peoria also had a strong squad, returning their top four players from the previous year and a JV team which had finished 13-3 in 1999.

Despite Metamora’s inexperience and the rugged competition in the league, the Redbirds put together a remarkably successful season.  The varsity squad finished 9-6 (6-4 in the conference), with four of the losses to Morton and Dunlap.  The only other schools to top Metamora were Peoria Woodruff (which won the Mid-State Six Conference and Peoria Sectional) and Normal U-High, the latter a tight 5-4 decision.

Among the top achievements for the year was defeating East Peoria twice, both times by a final count of 5-4.  Remaining in the upper echelon of the league was a goal entering the season, and these two wins allowed this goal to be realized.  The Redbirds were also fairly successful in tournament play, finishing 3rd at the Peoria Central Invitational, 3rd at the Morton Invitational and 3rd at the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament.

Andy Gravlin was named to the Mid-Illini All-Conference team for the second consecutive year, an honor bolstered by his second place finish in singles at the Mid-Illini Tournament.  The 2000 season was capped off with a trip to the Northwest Chicago suburbs for a three-night stay which will be forever remembered fondly by those who made the trip.  Gravlin and Chad Whittington qualified for the state tournament in doubles out of the Peoria Sectional by virtue of their fourth place finish, marking the fourth consecutive year a Metamora doubles team advanced to state.  The duo won once and lost twice, thereby finishing in the 65th through 96th place group.

Andy Gravlin was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, Tim Tisseret its “Most Dedicated,” and Joe Harris was dubbed “Most Improved.”  Significant progress was made from the onset of practice in March until the end of the official season in May.  This progress was but a fraction of that which would be achieved over the summer, fall and winter prior to the 2001 season, a season which will certainly bring with it higher goals and aspirations.