When Free State High girls tennis coach Jon Renberger says he’s loaded at the top, he’s not kidding.

The Firebirds, who won their third straight Sunflower League team title and placed second at the state tournament last year, return their top three players in seniors Emily Wang, Emily Loewen and Lacey Luina.

City tennis players Sara Olson, left, of Lawrence High, and Emily Wang of Free State High are ready for the girls tennis season. The Lions opened Wednesday at Blue Valley Northwest, and the Firebirds' season begins today at Junction City.

Those three are as good as it gets.

Wang is the defending state champ at No. 1 singles, while Loewen and Luina are the defending league champs at No. 1 doubles.

“They’re playing this season with their eye on the title, just like Emily is,” Renberger said of the doubles duo. “If they have the kind of season they’re capable of and that they’re hoping to have, they’re going to be in the mix.

“Power, speed, they communicate well, they’re best friends off the court they’ve got it all.”

The two spent the summer playing tennis every day in hopes of winning that state title. When Free State kicks off its season today at the Junction City Tournament in Salina, both will be pumped.

“I’m so excited,” Loewen said. “The sooner, the better.”

Wang went 32-1 last season and is the odds-on favorite to win it all again this year. Renberger describes her as a sure Division I tennis player who probably could excel in any sport, but focuses her efforts on tennis. Who can argue with the results?

“She’s head and shoulders above most girls,” Renberger said.

Beyond those three, the Firebirds will see how things shake out, depending on which of the 11 juniors or three sophomores develops quickest.

“We’ve got some talented girls who are going to have a great season,” he said. “And we’ve got girls who will get better. The only thing I can do early in the season is just be patient. As they become a little more comfortable and a little more consistent, they’ll improve.”

Lawrence High

The Lions opened their season Tuesday against Blue Valley Northwest with mixed results. Their top three singles players won, but the Lions didn’t win a match after that.

Coach Dick Wedel has 40 girls on the roster, but only four with lots of tennis experience. Seniors Becca Fritzel, Abby and Sara Olson and junior Sydney Lartigue will alternate the first few weeks at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles, depending on which player is strongest that particular day.

Or, who draws the short end of the stick on Oct. 1 when the Firebirds visit Lawrence High’s courts.

“It’s not like that all the time, but when it comes time to play Free State, we’ll all be like, ‘Uhhh, Abby, you can do it,'” said Sara Olson.

Olson’s real hope is that she and her sister can mesh for a trip to state at doubles.

“We know each other well and we get along pretty well, so it works,” Olson said.

With so many girls on the roster, Wedel has split practice into two sessions. That way, he can focus one practice on fundamentals for his less experienced players, then turn things up a notch for the evening session.

Thus far, it’s gone pretty well.

“We’re going to improve,” he said. “We’re going to be better in October than we are in August. And we’re going to have a good time.”