FROM LEFT, FREE STATE HIGH SENIOR PATRICK SPURGEON, Seabury Academy senior Simon Thompson and Lawrence High senior Anthony Frei are three of the city's most promising tennis players entering the upcoming season.

The Free State High boys tennis team won’t have a problem with senior leadership this spring.

The defending regional champion will return five seniors, including co-captains Jack Hull and Patrick Spurgeon. Cameron Casady, Mitch Morrow and Matt Smysor comprise the rest of the quintet.

Hull and junior Charlie Moffet competed in doubles competition at the Class 6A state tournament last year in Wichita. They didn’t place, but coach Jon Renberger sees different possibilities for this season.

“The plan is to develop them to be the strongest doubles team possible for us,” Renberger said. “Charlie is No. 1 on our singles ladder, and Jack is No. 2 on our singles ladder.”

Renberger said the players complemented each other well on the tennis court. Moffet is the more experienced player. He’s quick around the court and is very strong with his ground strokes, Renberger said. Hull is taller and more of a physical presence.

“Between the two of them, with Jack’s net presence, it complements Charlie’s speed and skill quite well,” Renberger said.

Sophomore Blaine Kaehr is providing healthy competition to the juniors and seniors for a singles spot in the lineup. The up-and-coming athlete is a year-round player and has competed in United States Tennis Association tournaments.

“He gets along well with all the older guys and has a confidence and maturity that will help him significantly,” Renberger said of Kaehr. “He’s pretty quick around the court. He can extend points and be patient.”

Free State will begin its season Wednesday at the Four City Quad tournament at Shawnee Park.

Across town, coach Steve Hudson will take over the Lawrence High boys tennis team. Although the Lions didn’t have anyone compete at state last season, junior John McGrew has impressed Hudson in the offseason. Hudson said McGrew’s goal would be to make state this season.

“He’s a skinny guy, but he has a good tennis build,” Hudson said of McGrew. “He’s lean and tall, kind of like Julian Wright. Well, minus 50 pounds – and he can’t dunk.”

Hudson has worked with McGrew on having more confidence to use the power aspect of his game. McGrew often has played more of a safe game with many casual strokes to keep the ball in play. Hudson said that was good, but he wanted to see more aggressiveness from the talented McGrew.

Hudson said seniors Anthony Frei and Travis Gage, junior David Nieto and sophomores Taylor Seratte and Ryan Abbott likely would have significant roles this season as well. Frei is the only left-handed player on the team.

“That’s an advantage in tennis,” Hudson said. “Opponents aren’t used to the spin of the ball. Anthony’s patient, and he has a good all-court game.”

Seratte is a fearless sophomore who has worked his way to the No. 2 singles slot, behind McGrew.

“I think Taylor is so young that he doesn’t know how to be afraid right now,” Hudson said. “Even though he’s aggressive and fearless, he sometimes gets upset easily. We’re working on getting him calm more consistently.”

The Lions will open their season today in the Emporia Invitational.

Eric Nelson also will be a first-year tennis coach. He will take over a Seabury co-ed team that will field 18 athletes this spring.

Seniors Simon Thompson and Scott King and junior Brooke Sutherland will battle for the No. 1 singles spot. They all have noticeable aspects to their game.

Thompson, an exchange student from England, is a tall presence at 6-foot-2. Nelson said he combined his speed and size well and hit the ball aggressively.

King is a seasoned athlete who also started for the basketball team. He applies pressure and frustrates opponents with his ability to block shots near the net.

Sutherland ran for Nelson’s cross country team last fall.

“She’s not a big powerful player, but she swings really hard and gets a lot of top spin on her shot,” Nelson said. “She’s far more aggressive than last year. She’s hitting the ball deeper.”

Nelson has a senior-heavy class that will compete for spots in the lineup. Other seniors include Max Cannon, Mike O’Malley, Shiv Subramaniam, Min-Kyu Lee and Aaron Chung. Junior Gabrielle Dillon also will factor into the mix.

Seabury will begin its season April 4 at Lincoln Prep Academy in Kansas City, Mo.