BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick High School girls tennis team has a change at the top this year.

Replacing Rob Manter is Mary Kunhardt. Winners of three of the last four Class A Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships, the Dragons have also competed in four of the last six Class A State Finals, winning in 2012 and 2013, while losing in 2014, and a year ago to Falmouth, 5-0.

Kunhardt hopes to lead them back.

“This year we will work hard to get there again,” said Kunhardt, talking about reaching the state finals. “Usually our most challenging competitors have been Lewiston and more recently Camden. But each year is different, so we are working hard to play our best tennis and look forward to meeting each match as a new challenge to put our best racket forward.”

The Dragons return a strong nucleus from a year ago, a team that went 10-2 during the regular season. They avenged their KVAC championship loss to Lewiston by beating the Blue Devils in the regional final before falling to Falmouth.

With 11 strong, committed girls, six are returning from last year’s varsity squad. As they look forward to a competitive year, the Dragons used preseason to play internal matches to see which players will play singles for Kunhardt. Sophomores Anna Parker and Sara Scrapchansky are competing with junior Lea Scrapchansky and freshman Ella Perham for the three singles slots.

“Although the girls are competitive, they exhibit superior sportsmanship,” said Kunhardt. “I have a theory that (puts) emphasis on uniting the team that will make the players feel more connected, supported, relaxed and confident, hence make them play at their best. Luckily, this team has needed little help uniting.”

Other members on the Brunswick team are seniors Galen Gaze and Fiona O’Carroll, both team captains and players who are “doing a great job of creating a cohesive team,” according to Kunhardt. Juniors Abby Parker, Zoe Battle, Erin Coughlin and freshmen Lia Rand and Bella Driscoll round out the roster.

Brunswick opened the season with a 5-0 win over rival Mt. Ararat. The home schedule begins on Monday against KVAC rival Oxford Hills.

Mt. Ararat

After going 1-11 in 2017, Mt. Ararat returns a strong core of players from last season, and coach Sheila Bohlin likes her team’s potential.

“We have more experienced players this year,” said Bohlin of her 2018 edition. “The team has great spirit and (is) willing to work hard to help each other take their game to the next level.”

The Eagles last made the postseason in 2015, losing to Hampden Academy in the quarterfinals. An early season injury to Meri Stockford last season affected their lineup throughout the year.

This year, the co-captain is healthy and is joined by her returning senior classmates, co-captain Ryley Leech, Erin Venard, Elizabeth Garver and Katherine Trebilcock.

The Eagles are still working on their lineup due to the challenges of this spring’s weather. Sophomores Kaitlyn Doughty, Olivia Justice and Emma Soule are also returning varsity players for Mt. Ararat.

New players, all with potential for varsity play according to Bohlin, are senior Chloe Warren, juniors Bethany Dube and Riley Robertson, and sophomore Grace Trebilcock. Exchange students Yana Humenyuk and Dana Coliban round out the roster.

The Eagles travel to Messalonskee on Monday for their second match of the young campaign.

Morse

Following a 4-8 season and a preliminary win against York, the Shipbuilders fell to eventual State Class B champ Greely in the quarterfinals.

Graduating from last year’s team were Arielle Leeman and Aliza Johnson, both No. 1 and No. 2 singles players for the ’Builders. They are utilizing the spring schedule the best they can to see who will challenge for the top two spots to replace them.

Returning starters from last year will be vying for the starting positions. Seniors Halley Gellatly and Madeline Skroski, juniors Penelope Shields and Elsa Bertlesman, and sophomore Aria French will all compete.

With 24 players on the roster, coach Barbara Boyce expects filling the remaining spots to be very competitive. Despite the cool and wet temperatures so far this spring. Boyce is confident her team will be ready.

“Although most of our preseason training has been limited due to the unreasonable weather, we will be ready,” said the coach, whose Shipbuilders dropped a season-opening 5-0 decision to Gardiner and hosts Lincoln Academy on Monday at 4 p.m.

Wiscasset

Looking to build on a 1-9 season from a year ago, the Wolverines return four athletes, while six newcomers will be added to the mix.

The Wolverines’ four returning players are all sophomores. Maria West, Cara Viele, Kaitlyn Main and Kayla Delano return to the court for head coach Jesse Hinman.

Senior Sarah Foley and junior Megan DeLong are out for the team for the first time this year and are joined by sophomore Kateleen Trask and freshmen Eliza Paradis, Lily Yeaton and Paige Davenport.

“All of the new players on the team have varying levels of experience,” said Hinman. “So making sure everyone is comfortable on the court and in a match is the top priority.”

Wiscasset opens the season with a match at Oak Hill Tuesday before returning home on April 26 to host Dirigo. Both matches begin at 4 p.m.

Freeport

Mike Lawson enters his second season as the Falcons head coach and likes the direction his young team is heading.

“With the amount of young and returning players, Freeport tennis looks to build on the experiences and progress from last season,” said Lawson.

Returning to the team this spring are juniors Maya Dowling Wolfe and Rebecca Pierce, and sophomores Lindsay Galletta and Emily Perilla.

Lawson also expects newcomers Lucy Wing (junior), and sophomores Sadie Baker Southall and Anjolie Giraud to contribute for the Falcons.

“Many athletes now play during the off season,” said Lawson. “With that confidence and potential leadership, we hope to improve on our 3-9 record from last year.”

The Falcons open the season at Greely, winners of three of the last four Class B titles, on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. They host Waynflete the following day for their first home match, also at 3:30 p.m.

“We will use that matchup (against Greely) as a good indicator for where we are as a team and what we will need to focus on for the remainder of the season,” said Lawson. “We see this year as a chance to build strength, skill, confidence and execution moving forward.”

Lisbon

Lisbon High School will once again have a young roster, but preseason excitement has the Greyhounds looking forward to the upcoming season.

The last time the Greyhounds played postseason tennis was in 2014 after finishing the season 8-4, falling to Cape Elizabeth, 4-1 in the Class B West quarterfinals.

“Looking forward to having a fun, building year,” said head coach Georgia Ahlers. “(We) have a couple of kids returning from last year who are looking great, and the rest of the team are hard working beginners.”

Returning from a winless 2017 are sophomores Vanessa Wasielewski and Madi Valcourt. Wasielewski replaces Jennifer Violet (graduation) at the No. 1 singles and Valcourt will compete at the No. 2 singles slot.

While positions are still being filled, sophomore Caitlyn Hall appears to have the inside track on the No. 3 singles slot according to Ahlers, while other newcomers will fill the doubles positions.

“(I) haven’t done our ladder yet, but it’s looking like sophomores Emma Cleaves and Junique Rodriguez for the number one doubles ,and Naudia Rodriguez and Samantha Sitars for the number two doubles,” said Ahlers.

The Greyhounds open their Mountain Valley Conference schedule with a match at Boothbay on Tuesday before hosting Mountain Valley April 26.