SOAP LAKE — Now in their third year on the court, the Soap Lake boys and girls tennis programs will look to build off of an attentive freshman class.

“I went from having kids who basically never picked up a tennis racquet, didn’t know a thing about tennis, and now I’ve got kids that are – literally, over the summer I drive past the tennis courts and see four kids playing tennis for my team,” Head Coach Lee Leavell said. “I’ve got kids who are so interested that we actually did some summer tournaments.”

Leavell started the current Eagle program three years ago after coming to Soap Lake. With previous playing and coaching experience in high school and across the state, the teams have seen their numbers increase over the previous three years.

“I’ve been told that they used to have (a tennis team) a very long time ago, but I’m not sure if that’s true or not,” Leavell said. “When I got here there was nothing, so I talked with our athletic director and managed to make it happen. It’s in its third year now and still going strong.”

The Eagles have had a number of interested players in middle school, who were unable to play previously, but will still practice with the team throughout the season.

“They can’t play, but they come and practice with us,” Leavell said. “That keeps the interest going so that when they are able to play, I have more and more people.”

Soap Lake found itself in a similar situation last year, having middle schoolers practice with the 2022 team. Now as freshmen, those players will prepare to take to the court for the 2023 season.

“What I’m really excited about is I had a big group of eighth-graders last year join,” Leavell said. “These are the kids that are going out and coming to summer tournaments. They’re literally begging me to come play after practice. I have a pretty large freshman group, mostly on my boys side, that are really into it.”

Leavell said this season will be more of a “growing year” for the boys and girls teams, but that the experiences made on the courts will set them up for success for years to come.

“I really think they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Leavell said.

Leavell also hopes people will come out to watch matches this season.

“I would really encourage Soap Lake residents to come out and support the team,” Leavell said. “I’ve seen it, even the community has seen, that tennis is becoming a thing in Soap Lake, and I’m seeing community members actually play tennis. It would be nice to encourage the residents to come out and support these kids and all their hard work to help the program grow.”

Ian Bivona can be reached via email at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.