The boys tennis team begins the new season with no seniors on the team. However, all four of last year’s singles players returned, and their number one and two players are team captains juniors Anthony Bello and Spencer Simonides.

Despite many younger players and no seniors, this season will not consist of rebuilding. Spencer said that the team expects to improve on last year’s second place finish in SCVALS. The Eagles have five sophomores returning from last year’s varsity team and two freshman have joined the team as well. Although the team lost its senior captains, Coach Bill Wong does not see any problem with the change.

“Last year’s team captains did not have nearly the same amount of USTA [United States Tennis Association] experience as Spencer and Anthony do,” Wong said. “I think they will be great team captains.”

The team won easily against Palo Alto on Wednesday, February 29. Additionally the team took part in a state-wide tennis tournament in Fresno from Friday, March 2, to Saturday, March 3. After having won the second division championship last year, the team moved to play in the first division. The Eagles lost their first match to a number five seeded team from Santa Barbara by two tiebreakers.

The team then came back after their opening round loss to win three matches in a row and be the back-draw winners of the tournament, finishing ninth out of the top 16 varsity boys tennis teams in California.

“It was definitely a good experience for my players to play in division one,” Wong said. “In division one there is much more competition and a lot more talented players.

Both Spencer and Wong believe that this young team has what it takes to win the championships, starting off the season with a strong 4-1 (1-0 in league).

“We can definitely win the league this year, but it all comes down to teamwork,” Wong said. “We need to make sure that doubles and singles work together well, and if we do, I expect a successful season.”