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The Bucktail tennis players didn’t mind sharing senior night when they honored their coaches, Dan and Alison Heiser, after the duo’s program hit 200 career wins since taking over the program in 2007.

Another winning, playoff berth season for Bucktail tennis under coaches Dan and Alison Heiser has drawn to a conclusion when its top two doubles teams lost in the round of 16 at the DIV Tournament last week.

Both the teams of Alexis Lowery and Makenzie Wager as well as Gianna Balchun and Eva Sockman won their matches in the Round of 32, but then were beaten in the next round.

“Lowery and Wagner started fast against the Montgomery No. 1 doubles team. Our girls were leading 4-1 within the first 20 minutes and would be very aggressive at the net and have excellent baseline play,” said co-head coach Dan Heiser

“Balchun and Sockman would reunite for this tournament. They were a doubles team during the 2022 season and only lost one regular season match,” Heiser said of his other team in the playoffs. “Balchun and Sockman picked up right where they left off. They jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and never looked back. A combination of smart hits and solid net play allowed them to make quick work of the Lewisburg No. 1 doubles team,” summed up their coach.

With all the quick play, both doubles teams would not play again for over an hour. The long wait, with the cold and then the winds picking up, influenced the double’s teams. The very high winds really changed the game plan for how the doubles teams would have to play. Any high lobs would be carried in the wind. Both teams started very slow in the round of 16 but challenged their opponents. Both doubles teams fell behind early and could never gain enough momentum to pull out wins.

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Bucktail had four players make it to the round of 16 in District 4 doubles playoffs. From left to right: Eva Sockman, Gigi Balchun, Alexis Lowery and Makenzie Wagner.

“Today was a good showing for our double’s teams, in all matches. Both doubles teams played at a high-level and were extremely competitive. This is all you can ask of your players,” said co-head coach Alison Heiser. “This season has been wonderful. Our seniors, parents and fans have been great. I cannot thank them enough.”

The husband and wife coaching of Dan and Alison Heiser has created the longest running most successful program ever at Bucktail in any sport. Truth be told, not many people could have seen this coming back when they took over Bucktail.

After a coaching search came up empty, the Bucktail principal at that time asked Renovo Elementary teacher Dan if he’d help the school out as a coach. Heiser said the only way that he could do it was with his wife Alison’s help, as neither had any experience before.

“We barely had any girls that first year. Luckily, we had some great seniors like Tanya Bratton and Claire Kerstetter, and they really helped us that first season,” said Alison, only making their 204-73 mark since they took over in 2007 even more impressive. “Yeah, we were looking up plays and drills, speaking with other coaches…we learned as we went along for sure.”

Another remarkable attribute to the Heiser’s success is with them competing with cheerleading in a small school, they don’t always get the school’s top athletes to come out for tennis. This year’s team is loaded with top athletes, but certainly many of the school’s best basketball or softball players opt to cheer in the fall.

This year’s No. 1 seed, senior Alexis Lowery knows, as many others before her, playing for the Heiser’s has led to a great career, as she may even be playing tennis in college.

“When I say Dan and Alison are truly amazing people, I mean that so much. They do pretty much anything for everyone and deserve so much. Knowing they’ve reached 200 wins since being a part of this program makes me so happy for them. But they wouldn’t have reached that if it wasn’t for us and past girls.

We all helped them achieve this by them coaching us into great players and just better people. Dan and Alison treat their team as if they’re all one of their own. I enjoy this sport so much knowing I have two coaches that have pushed me to be the player I am today. I came from not playing, to first doubles, to second seed, to seed my senior year now first.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them. I’m so glad they were so hard on me for the past four years because I have gained so much skill from that. My sophomore and junior year we only lost one match during season play. There was never a year in my four years of playing that we didn’t make it to playoffs. We were also named Mid-Penn champions last year.

They are very passionate and hardworking, and this program wouldn’t be where it’s at right now if it wasn’t for them two helping us girls achieve big things. I’m excited to see where it will go in the future because they can help anyone gain the skill they need.”

The players recognized the Heiser’s 200th career win, which came on the road late in the season, during senior night 2023 in Farwell.

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