Tennis preview: Greater Spokane League capsules and league notebooks

Mead

Coach: Bill Wagstaff, 40th season. 2017: 11-0, 9-0; first in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 2/8

Key departures: Jack Everett (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Edward Liu (1st-team all-GSL), Eric Liu (1st-team all-GSL), Kyle Kuka (1st-team all-GSL), Luke Orwig (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: n/a.

Outlook: 2017 coach of the year Bill Wagstaff returns a superb lineup, including brothers Edward and Eric Liu, both first-team all-GSL from 2017. At least four returnees went undefeated in league play last season.

Gonzaga Prep

Coach: Jon Wrigley, third season. 2017 record/finish: 9-4, 6-3; fourth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 3/7

Key departures: Ben Schemmel (2nd-team all-GSL), John Heath (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Tyler Timperman (1st-team all-GSL), Brandon Cote (6th place districts), Nick Wendle (6th place districts).

Key newcomers: Marcelo Scudiero.

Outlook: Experience at the top, but depth needs to be tested. Added an important depth player in Scudiero as well as maturation of other players will help this team against other top teams.

Central Valley

Coach: Brian Kreider, 10th season. 2017 record/finish: 7-5, 5-4; fifth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 3/7

Key departures: n/a

Key returners: Jared Mace, Dean West (1st-team all-GSL), Evan West (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: Young players will need to step up early on in the season to be ready to compete against other top GSL teams. Top-end talent and senior leadership is their strength.

Ferris

Coach: Chris Jacobson, eighth season. 2017 record/finish: 7-2, 7-2; third in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: n/a

Key departures: Zach Utzinger, Arian Gahvarechi (1st team all-GSL), Danny Denike (1st-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Blake Hansen (2nd-team all-GSL), Andrew Walker (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: Depth and match experience are the backbone of the Saxons. Senior leadership starts with Hansen and Walker.

Shadle Park

Coach: Shawn Howard. 2017 record/finish: 3-7, 3-6; eighth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 3/4

Key departures: n/a

Key returners: Brenden Archer (1st-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: The 3A district champs from 2017 return a majority of their team, led by Archer, a state alternate in 2017 and a state participant in 2016.

Rogers

Coach: Miles Moffitt, third season. 2017 record/finish: 2-9, 1-8; ninth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 4/6

Key departures: Monish Gurung, Charlie Bauer, Chris Biem.

Key returners: Tyron Rucker (2nd-team all-GSL), Chalee Moua, Paul Caldeira, Will Hefling.

Key newcomers: Luke Riblet, Cole Riblet.

Outlook: Lost a lot of seniors, including one who went to regionals, but a lot of athletes came out, including five basketball players. It is their first time playing tennis, but they are picking it up quickly and competitive. Inexperience will be their weakness.

North Central

Coach: Ish Quidwai, 18th season. 2017 record/finish: 0-11, 0-9; 10th in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 4/4

Key departures: n/a

Key returners: Ryan Hildahl.

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: Another rebuilding year for the Indians, who didn’t return any all-league players or lose any either.

Girls

University

Coach: Julene Osborn, 15th season. 2017 record/finish: 10-0, 9-0; first in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 4/6

Key departures: Shaunay Garcia (1st-team all-GSL), Micki Thies (1st-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Katie Smithgall (1st-team all-GSL), Sophia Orndorff (1st-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: 2017 coach of the year Osborn returns a strong squad after winning the GSL last season. Even after losing two first-team all-GSL players, the Titans will again compete for the GSL crown.

Lewis and Clark

Coach: Eric Woodard, fifth season. 2017 record/finish: 11-2, 7-2; third in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 4/6

Key departures: Brooke Fager (GSL MVP), Linnea Love (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Abby Ward (2nd-team all-GSL), Carolyn Johnson (2nd-team all-GSL).

Key newcomers: Madelyn Dibble.

Outlook: Sophomore Dibble moved to Spokane from Virginia and coach Woodard thinks she could be the best player in he city. She will take the No. 1 singles spot. Depth will be a slight weakness after losing Fager and Love, but LC will be competitive again.

Ferris

Coach: Michael McLauchlin, 18th season. 2017 record/finish: 6-5, 3-3; fifth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 3/7

Key departures: Kjersti Strandness (1st-team all-GSL), Brook Goodwin (1st-team all-GSL).

Key returners: Vineha Malireddi.

Key newcomers: Emma Owen, Mariya Priumyan.

Outlook: Ferris loses state medalists Goodwin and Strandness, who finished sixth in State 4A doubles. Owen, an incoming freshman, could be one of the best players in the city. Priumyan comes to Spokane from Oklahoma and will stabilize the singles line.

Shadle Park

Coach: Shahid Quidwai, first season. 2017 record/finish: 2-11, 2-6; eighth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 1/7

Key departures: n/a

Key returners: Sophia Votava, Kayla Clark, Megan Felts.

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: First-year head coach Quidwai will lead a Highlanders team that didn’t lose any major players from last season and returns a veteran lineup. Five seniors will lead the way for a team looking to compete with anyone in the league.

Rogers

Coach: Barb Silvey, 25th season. 2017 record/finish: 1-11, 5-0, ninth in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 5/7

Key departures: Beth Cleary, Olivia Marx

Key returners: Kandle Vang, Tila Karki, Jaspreet Kauer

Key newcomers: n/a

Outlook: The Pirates lost a lot to graduation and Running Start. A young and experienced team, Rogers will look to grow in a hurry.

North Central

Coach: Riley Moore, first season. 2017 record/finish: 0-9, 0-8; 10th in GSL

Starters graduated/returning: 0/4

Key departures: n/a

Key returners: Hannah Nelson (1st-team all-GSL), Jenna Bothun.

Key newcomers: Mackenzie Letsch.

Outlook: New head coach Moore takes on a challenge to rebuild the Indians. Moore brings in four experience assistant coaches to mold the team. Nelson will be the leader for the new season.

Great Northern

Boys: Last season, Clarkston finished the year two games ahead of Pullman. Coach John Kowatsch will look to repeat and Coleton Tenwick will be the player to watch as a first-team all-GNL selection. … Pullman returns Andy He and Jacob Pru, two all-GNL first-teamers. … Cheney brings back GNL first-teamers Dixon Gerber and Aaron Fillmore. … West Valley will lean on Dylan Almeida, a senior who has been a steady producer for coach Ned Fadeley. … East Valley lost both of its all-leaguers – Josh Lee and Eli Holicek – to graduation.

Girls: West Valley (10-2) coach of the year Clay Nelson will rebuild, led by all-GNL first-teamer junior Ava Raney, who made state her freshman year but missed last season because of injury. … Pullman returns two all-GNL first-teamers in May Qiang and Madison Shearer as it looks to repeat as GNL champions. … Cheney finished third in 2017, but it lost two all-GNL players. Nika Kauwe returns after a first-team all-GNL season. … Clarkston brings in transfer Lena Irtingcauf from Germany to play singles.

Northeast A

Boys: Medical Lake will rely on college-bound Noah Ray, who has multiple trips to the state tournament under his belt. The Cardinals are a young team that needs as much court time as possible to season their new faces … Riverside will lean on Nolan Ng, who went to state last season and was a league doubles MVP in 2017. … Freeman returns eight, including junior Andy Simmerman, an eighth-place finisher at state in 2017. … Newport returns four. Rylan Hastings and Cameron Whittle will be the singles players to watch, and Cody Warner and Johnny Goodman should occupy the No. 1 doubles spot.

Girls: Deer Park and coach Natalie Roy won the District 7 title last season for the first time in school history. Allie Michael in No. 1 singles and Natasha Root and Mara Allen in No. 2 doubles are players to watch. … Colville finished 12-2 last season but lost half of its starters from last season. … Heather Barr will occupy the No. 1 singles spot for Medical Lake this season. …Freeman keeps four for this season, including Sara Simmerman and Kaitlyn Strahl. … Newport will be young. Cydni Lewis finished fourth in the league last season in singles and Lydia Jurgens (soph.) will also be one to watch.

Idaho boys

Inland Empire 5A: Lake City returns almost everyone from a 15th-place finish at state last season. Junior Jack DeCoeur took seventh at state his freshman year. National Merit finalist Chris Vargas occupies the second singles spot. … Coeur d’Alene features three state qualifiers, led by Bayley Throm. Seniors Adam Preibe and Bracken Curtis also went to state in doubles. … Post Falls returns nine starters. Daniel Alavera transferred in from Spain.

Others: Sandpoint has team captain and junior Declan Plummer to lead with Noah Hastings, a mixed senior, to also step up. Tyler McNamee will be a newcomer to watch in doubles.

Idaho girls

Inland Empire 5A: Coeur d’Alene retains three state qualifiers, Sarah Swider, Kim Gunnerson and Kiah Morton. The Vikings finished last season 12th at state. … Lake City added Chloe Teets, a star soccer player and former track athlete who will take the No. 1 singles spot in her first year. … Post Falls will lean on junior Courtney Finney, a 2017 state qualifier. Sammie Schumacker is No. 2 singles, and Madyson Lahr and Maddy Sunnel head the No. 1 doubles team

Others: Sandpoint placed second in last season’s 4A tourney and has 10 returning letter winners. Singles is set with Allura Livingston (district champion 2017) and doubles will be led by April and Amy Clark, senior team captains.