According to staff reports
Capsules for the 2023 Greater Spokane League boys and girls tennis teams.
Teams listed in alphabetical order. Records and rankings for the 2022 season.
4A/3A
Central Valley: There are eight winning letters on first-year coach Connor Busch’s men’s team, but it’s too early in the season to predict team roles. “We don’t have any seniors, but we had great teamwork and great spirit in the first practices,” he said.
Shaun Williams takes over as the girls’ coach with six letter winners and three returning starters, led by district alternate junior Kalley Shelby. “We are younger and less experienced in doubles,” Williams said, “but we have young players who will improve over the course of the season.”
Cheney: The Blackhawks men’s team returns seven for second-year coach Dan Estock, including senior singles players Hunter Passey and Connor Gall.
Linnea Love is back for her second season as coach of the women’s team with just three winning letters back, led by honorable mention All-GSL Colleen McKinnon, who will play doubles. Angelica Goold is a transfer from Mt. Spokane that could have an impact.
Ferris: The Saxons have been hit hard by graduation but have four returning winners for fourth-year coach Jim Utzinger, with seniors Brennan Roshetko and Cameron Lee leading the way.
Gonzaga Prep: Shane Sandlin is the boys’ new coach with seven letter winners to work with. Singles No. 1 Ryan Dougherty will be a leader.
The women’s team went 10-0 last season for coach Jason Chapman, who enters his fourth season with seven returning starters, including state qualifier singles player Juliet McFarland and doubles Kate Palelek and Carly Walton – all seniors.
Lewis and Clark: The Tigers boys were third last year for veteran coach Tobin Phelps, entering his 21st season, and come back five, including regional senior singles qualifier Everett Skubinna and junior doubles qualifier Bridger Cloninger . “We’re returning great senior leadership with quite a few varsity games,” Phelps said.
Kate Burns returns for her second season as the girls’ coach. “For the third year in a row, we graduated over half of our varsity players,” she said. “With this year’s young team, we are looking to build match experience.”
Mead: The Panthers boys were undefeated in league for third-year coach Bryce Borland, but only two letter winners return, seniors Andrew Parker and Drew Champlin, who qualified for state in doubles but will play singles this season. “Our goal is to play high percentage tennis, leading to a lot of success on our courts,” Borland said.
Jon Wrigley is entering his 21st season as coach, his second with the Panthers women’s team. Junior Ravenna Byrd, state backup and all-league pick, is one to watch with doubles team Lizzie Hardy and Rylee Lupton.
Mt. Spokane: The Wildcats lost a lot of contributors last season, but All-League doubles player Lucas Trigg is back for his senior season with coach Dustin McConnell, in his second year as coach- chief. “Revenants have seen what success looks like in 2022 and how playing strong and consistent can lead to success,” he said.
Third-year girls coach Jacob Fry lost 11 letter winners at graduation, so there’s plenty of opportunity for players to step up. “Our undefeated JV team will reload our roster this year,” he said, noting that several volleyball players have also come out. Junior Ava Weishaar and senior Rowan Janda have a head start.
North Central: Brina Carrigan is the new girls coach with five return letter winners. “We have strong feedback,” she said. “But we also have a lot of new players who will fill the university slots.”
Ridgeline: Boys’ basketball coach Freddie Rehkow is also a tennis coach and has 10 letter winners in his sophomore season. “Last year, 13 of our 17 players had never played competitive tennis,” he said. “This group has worked hard and has high expectations.” Singles No. 1 Tyler Baker was first-team All-GSL and a state qualifier.
The women’s team returns nine for coach Russ Tarmann, including state qualifier Avery Lewis and fellow seniors Cassidy Kuhlmann and Charley Palm.
University: Dan Tenney takes over as the boys’ coach with six return letter winners, led by regional senior doubles qualifier Saxton Schultz and senior singles No. 1 Matthew Claypool. “Great attitude and hard working guys,” Tenney said, noting the JV team fired 10 players with four progressing.
Julene Osborn enters her 20th season as girls’ coach with seven letter winners, including Kailee Alteneder and Rebecca Coe, who will play in singles but finished eighth in doubles last year.
2A
Clarkston: John Kowatsch returns for his eighth season with the Bantams and 16th overall. Six-letter winners are back, including all-league senior singles Nathan Gall and Aiden Schnatterle. “We’re slowly building our numbers,” Kowatsch said, “but we have a great group of character-wise guys who are willing to work hard and get better every day.”
The bantam girls return seven winning letters for fourth-year coach Margie Denton, including second-team All-GSL seniors Maddie Kaufman and Taryn Demers. “We’ll be competitive this year because we’re about 14 deep,” Denton said.
East Valley: Tom Griner is entering his second season in charge of the women’s team and has had just three winning letters, including sophomore No. 1 in singles Fasai Xiong. “We have real team synergy and a family environment,” Griner said, noting that the Knights have three exchange students from Europe on the team.
Pullman: Cody Wendt’s district champion men’s team went 13-0 last year and fires state medalist Vijay Lin. “We have a wide range of experienced and accomplished players,” said the seventh-year coach. “I think we have a great chance of lining up both singles and doubles medalists at the state.”
Seventh-year girls coach Dan Vollmer has 10 letter winners and seven starters, including 2A state champion Rhoda Wang, who is just a sophomore. “We’re strong in singles,” Vollmer said, noting the graduation of top doubles pair Audrey Pitzer and Renee Sun, who finished seventh in the state.
Rogers: Ninth-year boys’ coach Miles Moffitt has four returning starters, including first-team All-GSL Aiden Bui and second-team Nikko McDowell. “Our top six guys are super strong and putting in tons of work,” Moffitt said.
The main returnees of the Pirates Girls are seniors Weiying Su and Joanne Avila. Coach Stephanie Garrett praises her team’s positive attitudes, fitness and effort.
Shadle Park: Adam Poush and Scott Stalder co-coach the men’s team, which is led by first-team All-GSL junior No. 1 singles Benson Plaster. “Our strength is in our junior class,” Poush said. “I’m excited for the future of the program.”
Shahid Quidwai returns for a sixth season as the girls’ coach with six winning letters, including league No. 1 singles runner-up Danielle Cozzetto. “With all of our starters, we hope to compete for the championship title,” Quidwai said.
West Valley: Boys’ coach Ned Fadeley is back for his seventh season with 10 letter winners, including No. 1 All-GSL singles player Conner Kunz. “We’re looking to build on the competitive team from last year with some exciting newcomers,” said Fadeley.
The girls will be led by No. 1 doubles team Carlie Knapp and Sutton Nordus, who qualified for the state last year. “We’re a young team with a lot of upside,” first-year coach Blake Lynd said.
