Libby High School’s tennis coaches are upbeat about both teams after their first few practices.

The Lady Loggers have 21 players, and Head Coach Kyle Hannah said he is excited to see the competition for the 10 varsity spots.

“I am extremely happy with what I’m seeing so far,” Hannah said.

Six of nine returning varsity girls have state competition experience from last year, he said. “So they should be able to carry our girls team pretty far this year.”

The large number of freshmen girls who have come out also bodes well, Oedewaldt said.

“Most of my juniors and seniors are the kids that really want to win, but there’s a few freshman that have that competitive edge,” Hannah said.

Hannah and Oedewaldt agreed that the players who just want to have fun are as welcome as those who want the top spot.

“It doesn’t matter to us if they want to compete, if they just want to be social,” Oedewaldt said. “We just hope they learn the game so they can have that for their life.”

Hannah said he thinks the team gets a few more players that way, including those who, as they learn the game, find they do want to compete.

On the boys team, some of the players have never picked up a racquet before, but they are applying themselves, some even staying after practice to keep hitting, Oedewaldt said.

“They’re trying. They’re trying hard,” he said.

“I’m pleasantly surprised with the effort that the kids are showing for not ever really picking up a racquet and hitting,” Hannah said. “They’re really listening, they’re trying to do stuff.

While they may do some things wrong, it’s just inexperience, not bad habits that need to be broken, he said.

“And once they figure out that muscle memory of how to actually swing and hit a tennis ball, it’s going to come along a lot smoother for a lot of these kids,” he said.

Boys with varsity experience may serve as leaders for the team, such as sophomore Sebo Sanders, Hannah said.

“(He) will have to just take the bull by the horns and take that leadership role,” he said. “And I think whatever he does, kids will follow.”

Libby will have their first matches at Polson on March 23 starting at 9 a.m. They will face Polson and Hamilton.

Libby tennis will be at home for the first time on Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m. for the Libby Invitational.