While the Powell High School tennis team has a number of varsity players to replace from last year’s team, more players are looking for their opportunity to make their mark in the 2026 season.

On the boys’ side the Panthers lost several positions, including both singles spots, as well as a spot on each of the No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles teams.

The top returners from a year ago is the senior duo of Calvin Opps and Memphis Solberg, who were the No. 1 doubles team a year ago that made it to the quarterfinals at state.

Joining those two as additional state returners are seniors Kazdyn Lee at the No. 2 doubles and Josh Waite at No. 3 doubles. Lee was part of a duo that worked back to finish just before the consolation semifinals a year ago.

Two more seniors, who were alternates from last year’s team, now vying for spots in the lineup are Sawyer Wormald and David Stensing.

“We showed some depth there through the 9-10 spots last year. David and Sawyer were right there on the cusp with the opportunity to play in that three doubles varsity spot,” coach Joe Asay said. “Some big asks for whoever finds themselves in the one and two spots potentially playing one and two singles. Hard to replace a couple pretty solid seniors that we had last year … All these kids have been putting time in once again through summer clinics and camps. Playing some tournaments, pretty excited about what they can bring with their opportunity to step in as seniors in a lot of those spots there.”

Behind that senior heavy lineup, Asay said the Panthers do have some young athletes who could compete for spots on the court.

“There are some kids that I think can have an opportunity to play high up, potentially challenge for those three double spots, be some solid alternates for us if that’s the case,” Asay said.

On the girls’ side only two starters return from the team a season ago, as senior Naomi Whipple is back as the No. 1 singles player for a third consecutive year, and fellow senior Noelle Leighton returns from No. 3 doubles.

“I want her (Whipple) to continue to build on and use the experiences that she’s had competing in high school tennis,” Asay said. “She’s also continued to put a ton of time into her game during the summer with clinics and camps, and tournaments that are offered locally … She can find some success this year as a senior in that one singles spot. I think she’ll have a great season.”

Whipple made a strong run at last year’s state tournament after losing in the quarterfinals, fighting all the way back to the third place match and taking fourth, while Leighton fought back with her duo to just before the consolation semifinals.

“Noelle had a good partner in Anna David and they had a lot of success,” Asay said. “She certainly is very likely to take a pretty big leap in that position this year. We’ll see how that all sorts out.”

Outside of the two returning varsity players, Asay is excited about the prospect of newer tennis players and younger athletes joining on the girls’ side, despite not a large number of athletes coming out this season for the girls.

“I’m pretty excited to see some newer players for us, some sophomores and juniors that are coming in,” Asay said. “We’ve got pretty thin numbers on the girls’ side, so some pretty good opportunities for those girls that are coming out here to compete with us.”

Being one of the smallest schools that competes in tennis, Asay believes the Panthers can continue to be competitive across the state whether individually or as a team.

“Just kind of the nature of tennis as an individual sport, I think we have some spots that could potentially play through our conference,” Asay said. “I’m pretty excited to see how well they can compete through the regular season, and hopefully build on that and take some pretty good tennis into state.”

Starting the season the Panthers head out on the road, beginning with a traditional opponent in the Sweetwater County teams, as Powell heads to Green River and Rock Springs on Saturday.

“Always excited when the kids have a chance to step on the course to compete because as much time we spend on the courts in practice, and however much time we spend during the course of the summer working on their game, match play is just different,” Asay said. “Always excited when we have that opportunity to get out and compete.”

Matches in Green River start at 9 a.m. before the Panthers bounce over to Rock Springs at 1 p.m.

Powell’s first home matches of the year will be next Saturday, when the Panthers host the Gillette schools.