Fall season is in full swing for the Powell Panther tennis teams, with the boys and girls set to play five matches in the opening five days both at home and on the road, with the teams returning varying levels of talent from last year’s rosters.

GIRLS REGROUP

Heading into this season the Panther girls’ tennis team will have some familiar faces in unfamiliar places, while some new Panthers will look to make their mark moving up the ranks as five positions from last year’s team need to be filled.

Powell, which finished ninth last season, needs to replace multiple spots from last year, with the No. 1 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles teams all graduating.

The highest returning player for the girls is Lachelle Lee, who finished 2-2 at the state tournament last season at the No. 2 singles slot.

The No. 3 doubles team of Maya Landwehr and Lucy Whipple also returns after gaining state experience last year and is expected to be in contention for higher spots this season.

“We are fortunate to have a number of girls that are ready to step into those roles,” coach Joe Asay said. “They put time in on the courts outside of the season.”

Other returning Panthers alongside incoming freshmen are expected to be in the mix to replace those spots. Competition throughout the first two weeks of the season at practice will help to determine the hierarchy of the team before the first competitions this week.

BOYS RETURN TALENT

The boys team will return nearly the entire roster from a team that finished tied for ninth a year ago.

Starting at the top will be Cade Queen, heading into his second season at No. 1 singles on the team, after finishing an impressive first year at state with a third place finish.

Queen advanced all the way to the semifinal at state last year before losing to the eventual runner up from Jackson.

Across the state No. 1 singles has three of the top four back, with the only graduate being Campbell Gervais from Jackson.

“He will see a lot of the same foes,” Asay said. “It will be fun to see what that looks like for Cade this year.”

Back at the No. 2 singles slot is Nathan Preator, who will enter his sophomore season looking for an improved finish over his 1-2 record at state last year.

No. 1 doubles is the only starting slot where the Panthers lost a position, although Keegan Hicswa returns after losing his brother Kalin to graduation.

Vying for the spot opposite Hicswa at No. 1 doubles will be the state competitors from No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles in Seeger Wormald, Isaac Stensing, Ryan Barrus and Taeson Schultz alongside a number of other returning players and incoming freshmen looking to make an impact on the roster.

“It’s pretty fun to see the depth that the boys are bringing because of returning the squad and having kids that want to compete for those eight spots,” Asay said. “They’ve grown, spent time on the courts and grown bigger. I get a real strong sense that there is a level of confidence and expectation on their part that is a real positive thing.”

BUSY SEASON START

The Panthers will have a fast start to the season, with five competitions in five days both at home and on the road.

Thursday kicks off the season with Powell traveling to Gillette to take on both schools, starting with Campbell County at 10 a.m. and followed by Thunder Basin at 2 p.m.

A quick turnaround will have Powell back at home on Friday, with a schedule change having the Panthers hosting two matches.

Rock Springs was originally scheduled to come on Saturday, but will now kick off the matches Friday at 9 a.m., Matches against Green River will follow.

Two days of rest on Saturday and Sunday will allow the Panthers to regroup, before traveling to Jackson to take on the Broncs at 3 p.m. Monday.

“I want them to go out and compete, and compete well,” Asay said. “Whether they come up against somebody that has greater experience, maybe a stronger player — I want them to keep the right frame of mind and be positive. When we start to get negative and anxious we don’t play well.”