Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the Post Falls Invitational has been moved to May 8 and the Sandpoint tennis team will now open the season at 10 a.m. Saturday with matches against Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston.

SANDPOINT — The rackets are cracking and the tennis balls are already flying at Travers Park.

That’s because for the second straight year, the Sandpoint tennis team is outside on the courts earlier than usual thanks to some spring-like weather.

Last year, the team was unable to take advantage of it due to the pandemic. But this season, the Bulldogs are ready to capitalize on it and secure some long-awaited hardware for their efforts.

For head coach Kent Anderson, watching last season get taken away in an instant was devastating. A district sweep was within Sandpoint’s grasp, but this year that plan is still in play.

Anderson is entering his 13th season at the helm, and being back on the court with his players is something he won’t take for granted ever again.

“For me, it puts purpose back in my life,” he said. “It’s really fun and I’ve had a lot of these kids since before middle school, so they are like a family.”

Getting outside so early is rare, but Anderson said when it happens, the Bulldogs reap the benefits.

“It’s a game changer,” he said. “It takes us up a level higher than we would have been.”

New year, same team

For the boys, a canceled spring season in 2020 didn’t change much. Everyone who would have played last year is back, and they are spearheaded by seven seniors — Josh Embree, Charlie Johnson, Christian Story, Tyler McNamee, Carter Johnson, Josh Jessen and Brahma Heitz.

The boys are a year older and a year more experienced, and given the amount of talent they have at their disposal, expectations couldn’t be higher.

Anderson said everyone wants a crack at knocking off his boys squad.

“They are tough,” he said, “and I got teams out there like Lewiston and a bunch of really good boys teams who want to play us.”

Anderson said he also has a gifted group of underclassmen, but unfortunately they won’t get to see much time on varsity this year because of how deep the boys are. That’s certainly a good problem to have.

Due to COVID-19, the team was unable to practice over the winter at their typical location — the Peak Tennis Center in Hayden. But that didn’t stop the Bulldogs from finding a way to get together every weekend inside the gym at Kootenai Elementary.

About 15 players showed up consistently to put in the work, including Embree and Story, two of the three captains on the boys side.

Embree and his family moved to Sandpoint in the summer of 2019 from Austin, Texas, and last spring was slated to be the start of his career as a Bulldog. Embree had high hopes of an epic start after beating out Story and Charlie Johnson during intersquad challenge matches to secure the No. 1 singles spot.

But the pandemic hit and ruined all of that. However, Embree didn’t just put down his racket, he kept grinding.

In December, Embree took part in a tournament in Austin and got a lot more time on the court than he ever expected.

Given the disappointment of last spring, Embree is just glad to be back on a tennis court with his teammates.

“I’m just happy to be out here,” he said.

This January when the snow started to melt, Embree and Story were out on the courts at Travers Park in frigid temperatures.

Embree and Story have built a tight bond over the last year while battling for the No. 1 singles spot. It’s a competitive relationship that they both enjoy and one they expect to help them this season.

“Hopefully we go back and forth all year,” Embree said. “It’s going to push me to be 100 percent better.”

Embree doesn’t plan on surrendering his top spot as he tries to get some attention from college recruiters, but Charlie Johnson and Story aren’t just going to let him have it.

“Charlie and Christian have been breathing down his neck,” Anderson said. “They all can play No. 1.”

At doubles, Anderson sees Charlie and McNamee teaming up for the top pairing. The two played together as sophomores and just missed out on qualifying for state. Anderson said they have great chemistry on the court.

Like Embree, Story was outside working on his game whenever he could during the offseason, and he said he’s prepped his shoulder for the demands of a long season.

Story said having the 2020 season ripped away made him appreciate tennis more, and he wants to leave his mark this spring.

“This year I’m going to go more all out than I have in years past,” he said. “I definitely want to get to state this year and make it a year to remember.”

The boys team is feeling pretty confident heading into this season thanks to their wealth of senior leadership. And who knows, the team’s first ever state title could be within reach.

Anderson said this group is capable of it, but he also noted it will take a bit of luck.

“You got to have one guy or a doubles team make it to the finals to accumulate the points to make a team championship happen, and that’s tough,” he said. “All of these guys have the potential of making it to the finals or winning state, it’s just a matter of getting the good bounces.”

Only time will tell, but this boys team could go down in the history books.

Given the disappointment of last spring, Embree is just glad to be back on a tennis court with his teammates.

A rebuild with plenty of potential

On the girls side, the story couldn’t be any different. They lost five seniors, including their captains and top two singles players — Hadley Goodvin and Jenny Slaveck.

The pair left their mark on the program and their shoes won’t be easy to fill, but Anderson is liking what he’s seen in practice so far.

“We got some really strong junior girls,” he said. “They are really ripping the ball.”

That class is led by junior captains, Olivia Petruso and Denali Terry.

For Terry, this season is a second chance. Right before spring sports were shut down last year, Terry stepped on a tennis ball during practice and tore all the tendons in her foot. So regardless of what happened in 2020, Terry wouldn’t have played in a single match for the Bulldogs.

During quarantine and throughout some of the offseason when she couldn’t put weight on her foot, she was still swinging a racket in her room.

Terry still isn’t at 100 percent, but she’s fully embraced her leadership role on this year’s squad. Being named a captain was a big deal for her and she can’t wait to pass on her knowledge to the underclassmen, she said.

“I love being a captain,” she said. “It’s just kind of fun to be like, ‘Yeah, I was there once and now I’m here and you can be, too.’”

The girls may have lost a lot of experience and talent from last season, but they reloaded with six newcomers in their top nine.

One of those newcomers is freshman Neva Reseska. Anderson said Reseska will make an immediate impact this spring and he expects her, Terry and Petruso to all be vying for the No. 1 singles spot throughout the season.

Right now, Petruso is holding tight to the top spot, but Terry said she will try her best to challenge her fellow captain.

“Olivia is phenomenal … so it’s going to be a tough match if I try,” Terry said.

Anderson is also expecting some big things out of Maile Evans and Maise Brazill, who has earned the nickname, “Never Miss Maise.”

Anderson believes he will learn a lot about the potential of the girls team over the course of the season, and the varsity lineup certainly isn’t set in stone.

“I got six girls between seven and 13 on the team who are all going to be in a war to make that top nine,” he said. “I honestly don’t know how that will end up, it’s always a battle.”

Some coaches would see the youth the Bulldogs have as a disadvantage, but Anderson sees a lot of raw talent that just needs more time on the court.

The Bulldogs are only a few weeks into practice, but Petruso has seen a lot of improvement from the newcomers.

“I think they’ve been adjusting really well,” she said. “I think growing as a team is going to be really exciting.”

Petruso moved from Spokane to Sandpoint prior to her sophomore year and was anxious to get on the court last spring and kick-off her career as a Bulldog.

When that didn’t happen, she was disappointed, but it didn’t break her spirits. She said the drive and camaraderie the team possesses inspires and pushes her to get even better.

A state appearance would be great, but Petruso really just wants to focus on believing in her ability this season.

“Going into it, I want to have a positive mindset like, ‘I got this, I’m in this spot for a reason,’” she said.

Terry said being a part of the tennis team has changed her life and Anderson has been at the center of it all.

“Kent is just super supportive,” she said. “I’ve lost so many matches and he’s just like, ‘Look you played your hardest, that’s all that matters.’ It’s just nice to have people around you that are just cheering you on.”

Sandpoint begins its pursuit for a district sweep at 10 a.m. Saturday with matches against Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene in CDA.