Tennis, anyone? More like tennis, everyone.Some 44 players are out for the Powell High School tennis teams this season — the most Ray Bieber has seen in his tenure as head coach.It's enough that Bieber is planning to bring a second assistant coach on board.In addition to being wide, the tennis roster is also deep.“We have about 10 boys that are almost exactly equal,” said Bieber.With only eight varsity lots of available, he said some of last year's varsity players are on the junior varsity team this year. But that situation may only be temporary, as players have already been challenging for positions, said the coach.Bieber expects to see inter-squad position-jockeying on the girls' side too, with five or six girls' doubles teams “almost exactly equal.”“We expect a lot of really good competition among our team,” Bieber said.At the state tournament last year, the boys took seventh and the girls ninth.Both squads have some big shoes to fill — the boys lost their top two players; the girls, their top six.Fortunately, the tennis program is stocked with what Bieber calls “a lot of talented young kids,” including 12 freshmen and four foreign exchange students.“Some are playing junior varsity, but we're just going to improve the quality of the program over the new few years,” said Bieber. “It'll be exciting.”At the team's inter-squad tournament, Pablo Garces, a 12th grade exchange student from Chile, emerged as the top guy. He will start the season leading the boys at the No. 1 singles position.Sophomore Robert Speiser slides into the No. 2 singles slot, after playing much of last year at No. 3 doubles.Familiar faces return to the No. 1 doubles position — as seniors Levi Anderson and Sam Wise begin their second year at the position.At doubles slot No. 2, sophmores Eric Curtis (who played at the spot last year) and Ashton Soloai will take up racquets.Freshman Justin Lynn and senior Regan Soloai round out the varsity squad at No. 3 doubles.Over on the girls side, junior Lisa Schiermeister snagged the No. 1 singles position. Her partner at No. 3 doubles last year, senior Brittany Feller, also moved up, claiming the No. 2 singles slot.Sophomores Lacey Eckherdt and Emily Kath will begin the year in the top doubles position. Seniors Trista Ostrom and Margherita Lietner — an exchange student from Italy — follow in at No. 2 doubles.Juniors Marquette McArthur and Shelby Watson will occupy slot No. 3.The squads will begin their season by hosting Green River at 4 p.m. on Friday, and Rock Springs at 10 a.m. Saturday.Even though those schools are classifed as 4A in other sports (and Powell at 3A), “There are no classes in tennis — we play against everybody,” said Bieber.He expects the teams' toughest opponents to come from Jackson, the Cheyenne schools and the Sheridan girls squad.“Can't go anywhere but up,” said Bieber of the coming season. “We're excited about that.”

Tennis, anyone? More like tennis, everyone.

Some 44 players are out for the Powell High School tennis teams this season — the most Ray Bieber has seen in his tenure as head coach.

It's enough that Bieber is planning to bring a second assistant coach on board.

In addition to being wide, the tennis roster is also deep.

“We have about 10 boys that are almost exactly equal,” said Bieber.

With only eight varsity lots of available, he said some of last year's varsity players are on the junior varsity team this year. But that situation may only be temporary, as players have already been challenging for positions, said the coach.

Bieber expects to see inter-squad position-jockeying on the girls' side too, with five or six girls' doubles teams “almost exactly equal.”

“We expect a lot of really good competition among our team,” Bieber said.

At the state tournament last year, the boys took seventh and the girls ninth.

Both squads have some big shoes to fill — the boys lost their top two players; the girls, their top six.

Fortunately, the tennis program is stocked with what Bieber calls “a lot of talented young kids,” including 12 freshmen and four foreign exchange students.

“Some are playing junior varsity, but we're just going to improve the quality of the program over the new few years,” said Bieber. “It'll be exciting.”

At the team's inter-squad tournament, Pablo Garces, a 12th grade exchange student from Chile, emerged as the top guy. He will start the season leading the boys at the No. 1 singles position.

Sophomore Robert Speiser slides into the No. 2 singles slot, after playing much of last year at No. 3 doubles.

Familiar faces return to the No. 1 doubles position — as seniors Levi Anderson and Sam Wise begin their second year at the position.

At doubles slot No. 2, sophmores Eric Curtis (who played at the spot last year) and Ashton Soloai will take up racquets.

Freshman Justin Lynn and senior Regan Soloai round out the varsity squad at No. 3 doubles.

Over on the girls side, junior Lisa Schiermeister snagged the No. 1 singles position. Her partner at No. 3 doubles last year, senior Brittany Feller, also moved up, claiming the No. 2 singles slot.

Sophomores Lacey Eckherdt and Emily Kath will begin the year in the top doubles position. Seniors Trista Ostrom and Margherita Lietner — an exchange student from Italy — follow in at No. 2 doubles.

Juniors Marquette McArthur and Shelby Watson will occupy slot No. 3.

The squads will begin their season by hosting Green River at 4 p.m. on Friday, and Rock Springs at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Even though those schools are classifed as 4A in other sports (and Powell at 3A), “There are no classes in tennis — we play against everybody,” said Bieber.

He expects the teams' toughest opponents to come from Jackson, the Cheyenne schools and the Sheridan girls squad.

“Can't go anywhere but up,” said Bieber of the coming season. “We're excited about that.”