The rackets are strung, and the players are feeling the tension for the start of the 2007 tennis season. Before the start of the U.S. Open, the seed of the Tree of Tennis was planted at Free State High School.

Coach Jon Renberger sees the toughest competition this year coming from Johnson County schools.

“The top teams in the state are Blue Valley North, Shawnee Mission East, and Washburn Rural,” Renberger said.

Even with the large number of talented teams, Renberger was assuring of the team’s chances this year,

“Our team is clearly led by a strong senior class, and that is a tremendous asset to our younger players as they learn and develop from such great models,” Renberger said. “Plus, having this many seniors on any team makes it special.”

The players feel secure too as they hang a turn on the tennis trail.

“Our hope is to not win State but to do well, I think that’s our main focus,” senior Julia Guard said.

Although there are a lot of seniors, Guard thinks that does not affect anything.

“There are a lot of seniors, most of the top varsity is seniors, but we all get along real well and have lots of fun,” Guard said.

As this article approaches match point, the tennis team is preparing for their upcoming season