A former Cougar tennis player himself, Lyle Stickney begins his ninth season leading the Barton tennis program.

Stickney’s women’s teams have qualified for the NJCAA tournament five times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017) with a best placing of 9th this past season.  On the men’s side, the Cougars finished 12th in 2014 with a 21st place finish most recently to conclude the 2017 season.

Returning to the national tournament after a year removed, the Cougars placed 21st at the national tournament this past spring.  Barton reached the back draw championship in the No. 3 singles while coming up a match short of the consolation championship in the No. 4 and No. 5 singles’ draws, as well as, in the No. 2 doubles.

Stickney entered the coaching ranks at Ellinwood High School, leading the girls program since 1989 and formerly headed the boys program from 1995-2009.  During this run Stickney has had 57 boys and 84 girls qualify for the state tournaments, with four regional titles and six top-5 state finishes on the boys side (three team runners-up) and six regional titles and seven top-5 placings for the girls.  In 2011 his Lady Eagles captured the Class 3-2-1A Team Championship. Additionally, Stickney was twice named 3A Coach of the Year.

An Ellinwood, Kansas, native, Stickney continued his playing career at Fort Hays State University, graduating with a Business Administration bachelor’s degree in 1984.