SHS boys tennis 2015 season preview
Head coach: Justine Wagner (third season)
2014 record: 11-2, 10-2 in league (co-league champs); one singles player, one doubles team qualified as state 2A alternates
Top returners: Matthew Richards (sr.), Justin Porter (jr.), Tim Porter (so.)
Key newcomers: Blake Wiker (fr.), Raymond Lam (fr.), Damon Little (fr.), Thomas Hughes (fr.)
by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette
There are no other players on the court with his experience. And while that’s good news for Sequim High head coach Justine Wagner, he won’t be able to suit up for any matches.
Former SHS girls coach Mark Textor is back as an assistant, backing his daughter as she heads into her third year with the Wolves.
After a 6-6 mark in 2013, Wagner led the Wolves to an 11-2 record and share of the Olympic League title last fall.
“This year we’ll be middle of the pack-ish,” Wagner said. “I graduated six very good players.”
That graduating Wolf Pack included the district tournament doubles qualifying team of Jerry Bryan and Eli Berg, plus stalwarts Victor Lam and Dan Willis.
“It’s definitely a rebuilding year,” Wagner said.
But, she noted, as many as seven freshmen, many of whom have experience and played this summer, are joining the program.
Returning to the team is Matthew Richards, a four-year varsity star who was a second alternate to the class 2A state tournament after winning two matches at the district tournament in 2014.
Backing Wagner is a familiar face in Textor, head coach of SHS’s girls tennis team from 2003-2007 and 2009-2013.
Textor was teaching in coaching in Paraguay before returning to the district.
Textor coached Wagner when she was a student; the two helped Sequim to its first team state championship in 2007.
Longtime tennis assistant Rich Hay stepped down to allow for the daughter-father coaching combo.
“I’m still a fairly new coach, so it’s great (to have him as an assistant),” Wagner said. “We have the same strategies. It helps me and the benefit goes to the players, which is awesome.”
