Usually there is at least one representative from Lawrence High or Free State at the boys state tennis tournament every May.

But last year, no Lions or Firebirds made it to the Class 6A tournament for the first time since FSHS opened in 1997. Once again this season, both city coaches have question marks concerning a trip to the tournament.

“Yeah, you could say a lot is still up in the air,” said Lawrence High coach Dick Wedel, whose team opens today with a dual in Emporia. “We have a lot of talented players coming back, but we’re not exactly sure how they will all fit in yet.”

The same can be said about the Firebirds, who begin their year with a home dual this afternoon against Shawnee Mission South.

“I think that both city schools are pretty secure in their No. 1 players,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said. “The real question will be how the rest of the kids respond.”

Indeed it’s a pretty safe bet that the Lions will be led by senior singles player Tommy Johnson, while the Firebirds will rely on junior Keith Pipkin.

But it was another Free State returnee who almost helped the two schools from being frozen out at state last season.

Senior Charles Guard — who played the first half of last season as a singles player, before switching to doubles — narrowly missed out on qualifying when he and his partner, Bryan Maygers, dropped a third-set tiebreaker in their second-round match at regionals.

“They were really, really close,” Renberger said.

But Renberger said he is not so sure that he won’t try Guard out at No. 2 singles to begin the season, and if that doesn’t work couple him with sophomore Jack Hull at No. 1 doubles.

City tennis players Charles Guard of Free State, left, and Lawrence High's Tommy Johnson are ready for the spring tennis season. The Firebirds will open at home today against Shawnee Mission South; the Lions will travel today to Emporia.

Rounding out the Firebirds’ lineup are junior Zach Morgenstern, sophomore Drew Schellar and Free State’s other senior Nick Martinez — who has played golf for the Firebirds the last two seasons, but grew up playing tennis with his older brother, Alan, a former captain for Free State.

After Johnson, Lawrence High’s line-up also is shaky.

Wedel said senior Rahul Gogineni appeared to be the Lions’ top doubles player, but then he has two experienced players in juniors Gardner Burg and Ryan Robinson, who could play either singles or doubles.

“It’s just too early to tell,” Wedel said.

However, Robinson, was the only Lion to win a match at regionals.

Two other seniors — Noah Welch and Sam Goodell — tentatively are penciled in to play doubles together.

Wedel said he wished he had a better grasp than just his team’s basic foundation, but the one thing he knows for certain is that the Lions spent the offseason improving.

“Every day that I went by the tennis center, even on winter days, when the courts were dry, I saw the fellas out there practicing,” he said.

While there might not be any sure fire state qualifiers from either school — like former Lion Scott Elwell, who recorded four top-five state finishes in his career — Renberger said he thinks both teams will find somebody to step up and make it to this year’s tourney at Shawnee Mission East.

“I think so. Tommy and Keith are very competitive and both will effectively lead their teams,” Renberger said. “I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if a couple of other people make it as well.”