The prep girls tennis season is underway.
Below are storylines to follow as local teams hit the courts in the coming weeks.
Can Shorewood continue causing a storm in the state?
The Shorewood girls tennis team has dominated Wesco 3A the past couple of years.
Led by Wesco 3A/2A South 2022 and 2023 coach of the year Arnie Moreno, the Stormrays are the two-time defending Wesco 3A South and District 1 champions, and they also earned seventh- and third-place finishes at the Class 3A state tournament since 2022.
Shorewood is coming off three straight unbeaten regular seasons and went 36-0 over that stretch. The team set a program record last season by winning 84 individual matches and losing just seven. It returns four of its six state qualifiers this season to continue the success.
Singles players senior co-captain Emily Lin and junior Rylie Gettmann look to add to their collections of league, district and state hardware. Lin holds two top-three league, two third-place district and one seventh-place state ribbons. Gettmann’s stash is similar with a pair of top-two league placing, two district championships and two top-eight state ribbons.
Lin bested Gettmann in the 2022 league championship match, but Gettmann responded by topping Lin in the 2023 state fourth/seventh-place match.
The Stormrays’ returning doubles-duo includes juniors Mari Brittle and Alex Mignogna, who prepare to defend their league and district titles to make a return trip to state.
Shorewood opened its season with 7-0 and 6-1 wins over Lake Stevens and Jackson, respectively.
Will Snohomish pounce its Wesco 3A North prey again this season?
Similar to Shorewood and its Wesco 3A South strength, Snohomish leads the Wesco 3A North pack.
The Panthers concluded the 2022 and 2023 seasons with undefeated league records. Snohomish sent doubles-duo Hannah Wells and Emerson Norris to state the past two seasons. They’re looking to break through with for their first state placing this spring. Doubles pair Bri Ulrich and Mak Dauer made their first trip to state last season but came up short of a ribbon.
Seniors Wells and Norris return this year ready to defend their 3A North doubles title after besting teammates senior Ulrich and sophomore Dauer in the championship last season. Senior singles player Lauren Ellis placed third in leagues last year and is also a returner for the Panthers.
Snohomish opened its season with a 7-0 non-league shutout over Oak Harbor on March 15.
One less state berth for 3A and 2A, one extra for 4A
There are two state berths available this season for Wesco 4A schools in District 1, one more than last year.
Wesco 3A North and South schools in District 1 will battle for just four state berths, one less than last season.
Wesco 2A schools in District 1 receive only two state berths, one less than last year.
Many new faces, several league and district spots available after high graduation number
There were many tennis players who competed in postseason tournaments last season who have graduated. As a result, there’s a slew of news faces primed to take the league and district berths up for grabs this year.
Seven seniors in singles and 13 in doubles graduated from the Wesco 3A North tournament and six singles and 13 doubles players from Wesco 3A South, most notably Shorewood’s doubles team Lindsay Rand and Sophia Serwold.
Five seniors in singles and six in doubles graduated from the Wesco 4A tournament, which serves as the District 1 tournament. The top three district singles spots were filled by seniors last season, leaving the two state berths this year open for newcomers.
This season returns many experienced players but also welcomes brand new hitters to various teams.
Kamiak graduated all its singles players from last year but returns all its doubles pairs and brings back five starters and nine returners overall.
Stanwood’s roster includes much depth as the Spartans have 13 seniors this year.
Marysville Pilchuck returns five Tomahawks and adds 22 new players. The team includes eight seniors this season.
Cascade’s team features eight returning players and eight new varsity members, seven being seniors. Half the Bruins’ squad is underclassmen, seven are sophomores and one a freshman.
Can several local seniors make one final state run?
There’s a handful of returning players who are looking for a strong ending to their last high school tennis season.
Jackson doubles player senior Isha Handa qualified for state the past two years but hasn’t placed. She partnered with then-freshman Gracie Schouten last season as the only doubles pair to represent Wesco 4A.
Glacier Peak singles player Maddy Henningsen was one match short of competing in the Class 4A state tournament last season. With one extra state berth and the top three district placers graduated, qualifying for state is well within reach.
Lake Stevens doubles- and twin-duo Bhu and Ru Sansuddi were District 1 runners-up last year and one match away from advancing to state. They’ll have a better chance of qualifying this year but may still have to compete with Jackson’s Handa and Schouten.
Representing the Wesco North schools is Marysville Pilchuck singles player Brooke Asper. She was league runner-up last season to since-graduated Stanwood senior Audrey Medina. Asper’s first trip at state ended quickly with an opening-round loss, but she’s one of four senior league finishers returning this year.
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