Steve Hudson, Lawrence High’s new girls tennis coach, certainly has the background to take over for former coach Dick Wedel, who retired last season after 34 years of coaching.

Hudson has had stops at De Soto High for six years, Baker University for a year and, most recently, as an assistant at Blue Valley Northwest for both the girls and boys teams.

Despite the potential transition problems of taking over for a coach who had been in place for so long, Hudson has been thrilled by the response he has received from the players.

“It has been a really smooth transition, and going to practice has been the highlight of my day,” Hudson said. “I am really appreciative of the girls for being so accepting of me taking over the program. I am just trying to give the girls all I can offer.”

Hudson said he hoped to help the Lions improve on last season, when they failed to send a player to the state tournament. He said this year’s team had the talent to do so. With the trio of seniors Lauren Kelly, Kelly Morgan and Lily Boyce, Hudson said at least one of those three and potentially others on the team would qualify for state.

Hudson said that the top players on the team were evenly matched. Kelly and Morgan recently played each other and needed a tie-breaker to determine the winner. Hudson said Boyce could also compete with Kelly and Morgan.

Boyce and Morgan were named team captains, voted by the other 25 girls on the team.

Leigh Luina, left, of Free State High, and Lawrence High senior Kelly Morgan are expected to lead their respective tennis teams in the 2006 season.

“Lily and Kelly (Morgan) lead more by example than they do vocally. Kelly (Morgan) works so hard that they just can’t help but raise their level of play when they are playing with her,” Hudson said. “Kelly (Morgan) brings shotmaking and a determination to do well every time she is on the court.”

Hudson said he knew how good the teams in the area are. Onesuch team is just across town – Free State High. Last season, Lawrence High was unable to win a single match against their cross-town rivals.

Free State finished fourth in the Sunflower league and second in the regional. Firebird coach Jon Renberger is happy to have a pair of players returning who qualified for the state tournament last year, in doubles competition – Seniors Leigh Luina and Julia Guard have been named the team’s captains.

“They have worked hard over the summer on their game. They are both very competitive,” Renberger said. “Their determination and competitiveness have helped them win a lot of tough points and a lot of tough games.”

Luina and Guard will likely be doubles partners this season, and will also see time at singles. Renberger believes that both players have the potential to play in college. Luina’s sister is a member of the tennis team at Emporia State.

“These girls have been around tennis for a long time,” Renberger said. “It certainly is in their realm of capability to play at the next level if it is something they want to pursue.”

The Firebirds have not set goals for the season but hope that their focus will remain throughout the two-month season, Renberger said.

“If we focus on improving each day and each event, the accomplishments, the finishes in league and regionals, those things are kind of a bi-product,” Renberger said.

Free State and Lawrence High will certainly see some of the best tennis in the state this season, with last years state champion, Hailey Craig, transferring into the league at Olathe South.

“The league is just going to be brutally tough and it would be hard for me to predict how we are going to stack up,” Renberger said. “I know that we are going to be ready and we certainly are going to be prepared to fight.”

The Firebirds will participate in a doubles tournament today, at Shawnee Heights.