If Free State High girls tennis coach Jon Renberger is certain of anything, he knows that his 2004 squad hasn’t come up short in the genetics department.

Seven of his record-number 45 players — Andrea Koch, Bridget Lavaveshkul, Joanna Loewen, Julia Guard, Leigh Luina, Becca Sheldon-Sherman and Holly Maygers — have older siblings who are current or past accomplished tennis players on Renberger’s boys and girls teams.

While this season is a bit of a mystery to Renberger, and isn’t blessed with a whole lot of proven varsity talent, he knows that at least many of his players are in good hands at home.

Not to say that Free State can’t be as solid as it’s always been. Leading the way for the Firebirds this year looks to be Koch, who saw significant varsity action last season at No. 1 doubles with her sister, Rachel, and just missed a berth in the state tournament.

Koch, a junior, likely will be at No. 1 singles or as part of a No. 1 doubles team this season.

“The experience is invaluable,” Renberger said. “She’s clearly the leader in terms of on-court experience.”

The rest of the ladder still is in its building stages, and probably won’t be sturdy until well after today’s Shawnee Heights doubles tournament. But Renberger expects senior co-captains Jamie McGovern and Jessica Luman to compete, as well as juniors Lavaveshkul, Loewen and Meghan Bock.

While Koch is the lone player with regular varsity experience in the past, Renberger said he’s confident that the Firebirds will come around after more players adjust to the varsity level. Heck, many of them can just ask their big brother or big sister for advice.

“Many of our varsity players just don’t have that experience,” Renberger said. “But I’ve certainly been pleased. We do have talent. Inexperienced talent just needs some time to grow.”

Lawrence High

City senior tennis players, Free State High's Jamie McGovern, left, and Lawrence High's Amy Bullerman, are ready for the fall tennis season. The Firebirds open their season today at the Shawnee Heights doubles tournament, and the Lions get under way Sept. 1 at Leavenworth.

As early as it is, LHS coach Dick Wedel is still trying to hammer out who belongs where on his bloated roster of 40 players.

He does know, though, that the 14 seniors he does have will play a vital role in the team’s success.

“You need to have the leadership from the seniors to show how it’s done,” Wedel said. “They’ve done a good job so far.”

Wedel cites Amy Bullerman as a strong candidate to emerge at the top of the ladder. Bullerman, a senior, did well at league and regionals last year as part of Lawrence’s No. 2 doubles team with Ashley Woodward, and has the varsity experience that’s scarce among a team that lost a lot of seniors.

Others looking to make an impact in 2004 are senior Sarah Nichols, Katie Robertson and Shannon Wanna.

Wedel also anticipated that some of the 10 sophomores that joined the squad could sneak up and get some varsity action.

“It looks like some of them have played tennis before,” Wedel said.

The Lions open their season with a quad Sept. 1 at Leavenworth. Until then, Wedel will have the daunting task of figuring out where to rank each of his 40 tennis players out this season.

“The girls have worked hard,” Wedel said, “and being under 100 degrees, we’ve purposefully done a little more physical training this week.”