Seagulls tennis teams lead charge up the standings

Published 10:45 pm Monday, October 5, 2009

The Snohomish boys tennis team won the Wesco North title the past two years with undefeated seasons, and while the Panthers are still near the top of the standings, they have some new competition.

Everett beat perennial league favorite Snohomish 5-2 on Sept. 21 — the Seagulls’ first win over the Panthers since Everett joined the Wesco North division in 2006 — and has dominated ever since, running its season record to 10-0 going into Monday’s meets.

Everett coach Tim Boyd said the Seagulls’ start is the best he’s had “the privilege of coaching” in his nine years as head coach. The 2008 team finished 11-5 — a significant improvement over the 4-12 record of 2007 — and helped Everett gain the experience and confidence required to become one of the league’s top teams.

“Our league has a great group of coaches and athletes who make this league very competitive,” Boyd said. “I tell the players that on any given day anything can happen and come prepared to play your best each and every match. They have definitely risen to the challenge this season.”

Climbing to the top of a highly competitive leader board takes dedication and a willingness to work hard, and the Everett players have exhibited both qualities. During the offseason, they participated in summer programs, took lessons and played in tournaments.

Everett also has reaped the benefits of a strong junior-varsity program. Last year’s JV finished 16-0 and many of those athletes moved up to the varsity level.

“The entire team is composed of standout players who have all contributed to our success,” Boyd said. “Although we play as individuals, we win matches as a team.”

Just as Everett moved up the standings this year, Arlington also has improved on last season’s performance. After finishing next to last with a 3-13 record in 2008, the Eagles were 7-4 and in third place going into Monday’s meets.

Arlington’s rise in the standings can be attributed to cohesiveness and team chemistry, Eagles coach Sean Cunningham said. Years of playing together have helped the team members form supportive bonds and have created a balanced squad that has shown it can compete with the best, as evidenced by the Eagles’ 5-2 victory over Snohomish on Sept. 16.

“I think the dominance that Stanwood and Snohomish have had over the past isn’t changed by what we or anyone else may be doing this year,” Cunningham said. “They are clearly still elite programs with consistently great players and standout coaching.

“We certainly don’t see ourselves in the same light as the traditional dominant, run-the-table teams mentioned above,” Cunningham added. “But we do know that we also have worked hard to gain respect from other teams in the league and my players feel good about that.”

After beginning its season 4-1, Lake Stevens looked as if it also was on a promising road to the top of the standings. But after losing No. 1 singles player Rylan Herdt, who was undefeated in the first nine matches, and No. 2 singles player Jens Hoult to injuries, the Vikings face an uphill climb. They were 5-6 going into Monday’s action.

Senior Andrew Carlson, who started the season at No. 3 singles, has been bumped up to take the place of his injured teammates. “He’s been really working hard to compete with the top guys in the league,” Lake Stevens coach Ryan Ingram said.

Although Herdt is out for the rest of the season, Hoult hopes to return to the court for the Vikings’ last four matches, Ingram said.

“From what I can see, when healthy, we can compete with anyone in the league at all singles and doubles matches,” Ingram said.