Preview capsules for boys and girls tennis teams from around the region.
Mt. Spokane
Coach: Don Story, 11th season. 2018: 8-5, 5-4; fourth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 1/4
Key departures: George Johnson.
Key newcomers: Harvey Johnson.
Outlook: According to Story, Graham Clark could go undefeated in league play after playing in USTA tournaments all summer.
Mead
Coach: Bill Wagstaff, 42nd season.
Starters graduated/returning: 8/2
Key departures: Edward Liu (Four-year state qualifier).
Outlook: Eric Liu and Kyle Kuka return to bolster the No. 1 and No. 2 singles. The junior varsity level will have to supplement the roster turnover from last season.
Gonzaga Prep
Coach: Jon Wrigley, 17th season. 2018: 9-2, 8-1; second in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 5/4
Key departures: Tyler Timperman (fourth at state, GSL player of the year), Brandon Cote (second-team All-GSL).
Key newcomers: Torben Vraciu.
Outlook: With Marcello Scudiero and Nick Wendle (both all-league players) as seniors and other tough players at the top, the Bullpups will need the bottom of their roster to take the next step forward.
Ferris
Coach: Jim Utzinger, first season. 2018: 7-2, 7-2; third in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 6/4
Key departures: Blake Hanson (first-team All-GSL), Andrews Walker (second-team All-GSL), Conner Busch (second-team All-GSL).
Key newcomers: Tim Pullmann (Germany), Anders Hanson, Jeremy LaSalle.
Outlook: Depth is the strength for the Saxons. With an influx of new talent, including foreign exchange student Tim Pullmann, Ferris could push the top teams in the league.
Lewis and Clark
Coach: Tobin Phelps, 17th season. 2018: 3-9, 3-6; seventh in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 2/7
Outlook: Max Ellingsen (first-team All-GSL) will lead a stronger Tigers squad this season that should be more competitive.
Shadle Park
Coach: Shawn Howard, second season. 2018: 4-7, 2-7; eighth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 2/3
Outlook: Brenden Archer returns as the No. 1 singles player for the Highlanders.
University
Coach: Aaron Alteneder, fifth season. 2018: 5-5, 5-4; fifth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 5/10
Key departures: Shaun Jones (second-team All-GSL).
Key newcomers: Joel Thompson, Sebastian Sanders.
Outlook: The Titans have a lot of talent returning. They hope to finish in the top half of the league for the second consecutive season.
Rogers
Coach: Miles Moffitt, fifth season. 2018: 3-10, 1-8; ninth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 6/6
Key departures: Tyron Rucker, Cole Riblet.
Key newcomers: Cody Downey, Brandon Doan.
Outlook: A bigger turnout for the Pirates, but they lost their top two singles players. Practice time will be key if they want to win more matches than last season.
North Central
Coach: Ish Quidwai, 23rd season. 2018: 0-14, 0-9; last in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 6/2
Outlook: A rebuilding year for the Indians, who will look to improve on their 2018 record.
Girls
Lewis and Clark
Coach: Eric Woodard, fourth season. 2018: 9-4, 7-2; third in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 4/6
Outlook: Carolyn Johnson and Madelyn Dibble are back to form a strong backbone for the Tigers, who will push for first place in the league.
Mead
Coach: Lynn Coleman, 10th season. 2018: 12-0, 9-0; first in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 5/4
Key departures: Katie Kuka (eighth place at state), Zoe Milatz (first-team All-GSL), Emma Koehler (second-team All-GSL), Elena Gardner (second-team All-GSL).
Key newcomers: Luca Misterck (Germany).
Outlook: Even in a rebuilding year, Mead will compete for the title as some depth returns, including Sophie Koehler (second-team all-GSL).
University
Coach: Julene Osborn, 16th season. 2018: 9-1, 8-1; second place in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 4/5
Key departures: Katie Smithgall (first-team All-GSL), Sophie Orndorff (first-team All-GSL), Maygan Osborn (first-team All-GSL).
Key newcomers: Gretchen Drews.
Outlook: Another GSL powerhouse that is rebuilding, the Titans have some experience to lean on, including Megan Carver.
Ferris
Coach: Chris Jacobson, first season. 2018: 5-6, 5-4; fifth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 4/6
Key departures: Vineha Malireddi (second-team All-GSL).
Outlook: First-year head coach Jacobson (eight years with boys) will need to assess what he has at his disposal. Returners Emma Owen (second-team All-GSL) and Maria Pirumyan will be his top two players.
Mt. Spokane
Coach: David Robin, first season. 2018: 4-8, 2-7; eighth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 2/4
Key departures: Jenna and Julia Lawrey (GSL doubles champs)
Outlook: After a season full of injuries last year, the Wildcats return a senior squad looking to avenge last season’s disappointment.
Central Valley
Coach: Clyde Woods, second season. 2018: 4-6, 3-6; sixth in GSL.
Starters graduated/returning: 5/6
Key departures: Hannah Conant (All-GSL)
Key newcomers: Taryn Harvey, Georgia Goldfeldt.
Outlook: A few close matches left the Bears in the middle of the GSL pack last season. With another year under Woods’ belt, CV is itching to prove it belongs closer to the top of the league standings.
Great Northern
Boys: Pullman third-year head coach Cody Wendt lost state quarterfinalist and No. 1 singles Jake Pru and Casey Crow, half of the No. 1 doubles team and co-league MVP, but the Greyhounds aren’t going anywhere. Andy He, two-time all-leaguer, and Tim Watts, the other co-MVP are back to keep Pullman atop the GNL. … Depth might be the only issue for Clarkston, but all No. 1 through No. 3 players are returning, including state qualifier Coleton Tenwick. The Bantams finished second in the league last season, so it will be fun to watch the top two battle again. … A large exodus of talent brings in fresh players eager to learn and to compete for Cheney. Jesse Erickson is in his 15th season, so he’ll be up to the task. Logan Ray and Jared Adams return to form the No. 1 doubles team. … After a successful 2018 season, West Valley and head coach Ned Fadeley will look to take another step forward. All-GNL Dylan Almeida graduated, but No. 1 singles player Spencer Jones returns. … After finishing last in 2018, East Valley returns 10 starters, including No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Andrew Dust and Julien Gunderson. Watch for the Knights to battle Cheney and West Valley.
Girls: Sam Adams is in his 20th season and he will lead Clarkston with returning state players Kerington Tenwick, Heidi Hansen and Hannah Winter. The Bantams should be competitive, especially with their senior leadership. … East Valley loses three starters, including its No. 1 singles player, but Brie Holecek and Jessica Ho will form the No. 1 doubles team again. … First-year Cheney head coach Jeff Ward inherits a young team after five starters graduated. Chloe Lerch, Sarianne Winters and senior Jasmine Daily return.
Northeast A
Boys: Noah Ray graduated, so first-year head coach Brian Tellez has a younger team to work with at Medical Lake. The main goal is to improve his team with short-term goals as the season progresses.
Girls: Head coach Natalie Roy and Deer Park return team captain and No. 1 singles player Allie Michael, who went to state last season. The Stags have their largest team in seven years. … No. 1 singles player Cortney Schuh graduated for Colville, but the No. 2 singles player and the No. 1 doubles team (Snezhana Polunets, Rose Kienbaum) return. … Medical Lake is another school with record turnout, doubling last season’s numbers. Head coach Dawn Eliassen returns most of her varsity squad.
Others: Chewelah boys and girls teams return a lot of talent. Head coach Denise Smith is in her 19th season. She’ll rely on her No. 1 doubles team, Keith Justice and Joe Dreiszus. Karilee Desautel and Hailey Crise are her No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. … Lake City and head coach Robert Brunn will be competitive in Idaho a year after co-winning districts. Senior Jack DuCoeur has been to state every year.