On Monday Feb. 29, the snow melted and the sun shone down on the first day of spring sports.  The varsity boys tennis team had their first practice of the season outside, for the first time in three years. This years team has very high expectations.

“We have to definitely win districts this year, with the talent we have it would be a let down if we didn’t,” senior Pratyush Sontha said.

The team lost a key player when Matt Dunn graduated last year. Dunn placed second in state last year and is now playing for the University of Nebraska. The team also lost senior Nick Murphy who had been on the varsity team all four years of high school.

“We [the seniors] are going to have to step it up without Matt and Nick. We did add [freshman] Sachin Milli who looks very promising,” Sontha said

The team has won districts the last two years and this years team is made mostly of seniors that want their turn to be champions. Of the 22 players on the team 16 of them are seniors.

“Because we have so many seniors we have strong bonds and better chemistry,” senior Will Stephens said.

Stephens will likely be in the number one position for the team. In tennis, each member of the varsity team is ranked on skill. In matches against other teams, opposing numbers play each other. Currently the team is playing matches against each other to figure out those rankings.

“Playing against each other can be fun but also very stressful,” senior Zohaib Abro said. “You’re determining how the rest of the season’s going to go right away.”

Abro is much like David Lee from the Golden State Warriors last year. He is described by his teammates as the spiritual leader of the team.

“ Zohaib is the team. He is the mascot, the leader, what we strive to be everyday,” Stephens said.

The teams first match is on Monday, March 23, vs. St.Charles.