This year both the girls’ and the boys’ tennis teams are in for a tough season, however, with a large variety of high skill level on the team and improving, top returning players from last year, the outlook for this season is positive.

Head coach for the boys’ team, Angela Gardner, is impressed with the strength of the team.

“This year, there is very little difference between our number one and our number six [players],” Gardner says.

This year the team will be led by top returning players Sam Lin, Austin Stradling, Kyle Vance, and Brennan Sciascia.

The boys’ team has tough opponents this season; Hamilton, Desert Vista, and Corona del Sol being some of the most brutal.

Gardner has made some changes to the team this year by hiring two assistant coaches. Andrew Gardner will be providing the team information and tactics on double strategies and playing at the net. Gary Sciascia will be improving the team by focusing on the basic shots: forehand, backhand, serves, and spins.

Keith Castillo is the head coach for the girls’ team and is excited about the team’s skills. “For the first time in my coaching career all the players who made either Varsity or JV have had at least some tennis experience,” he says, “so we can focus on more technical aspects of the game instead of ‘back to basics.’”

The team has a good dynamic as well, “all the girls are friendly and want to succeed,” Castillo says.

This year the team will be competing for the top spot, since they are playing at a high level as a whole. Sophomore Allie Shibel, who was in the top three last year, will return as the top player this year. The girls’ strongest opponents will be Basha, Hamilton, Desert Vista, Chandler, and Corona del Sol.

The team’s next matches are against Gilbert on March 25. Both teams have an intense schedule ahead of them, but with strong players this year’s season looks to be a good one.