Getting off to a slow start due to nasty weather canceling their matches, the tennis team is finally starting to get some game time. They beat Cleveland in their first match of the season, but then had a two-week delay as their match against Franklin was canceled from our rainy-spring weather. But that’s what can be expected with spring sports in Seattle.

Back from practicing, they lost the match to Nathan Hale, but defeated Sealth.

The team has a different look than last year. John Larkins is back as the coach after Laura Sugden coached the team last year. His experience in the game of tennis has brought the team back to basics, and they’ve been practicing their serves and follow through at practices.

There are also a lot more underclassmen on the JV team than last year; so many that a JVC team had to be formed to help out the beginners. There are many freshmen that are just learning tennis for the first time this year. They practice, along with most of the JV team at Hiawatha. The Varsity players practice at the courts near Lincoln Park.

Juniors Eli Scott and Hannah Matalone are some best players in the Varsity team list. Senior Jean Farrel has been playing tennis for West Seattle High School since freshmen year, and is one of the leading Varsity players this year.

“He’s one of the top guys,” said Chris Caculitan, fellow senior player.

Mattie bess is a West Seattle High School journalism student and this article appears originally in the school newspaper, The Chinook.