The tennis team is back in full swing this season as they try to continue the success from last. The Junior Jays finished second at the state championship and won the metro tournament last year. 

In his eighth year as head coach, Jerry Kowal said that this second place last year was “not to the level that he expects”. Kowal has high expectations for the year.

“We can win State this year no matter who’s in the way,” Kowal said.

The two top singles players for the Junior Jays are both sophomores in Alex Liu and Blake Gocken. Kowal has big expectations for the two in their brackets. 

“They can both have great years, I’m excited to see their progress,” Kowal said.  

But with defending state champs Lincoln East returning senior Hunter Nelson, the path for Prep’s number one singles player, Liu, might be difficult.

“Yea, he’s really good,” Liu said about Nelson. “We’ve been friends for a while and I’m ready to try to fight him for State. It should be really fun this year.”

The Junior Jays are looking forward to the rest of the year with matches in the next week against Millard West. Prep is looking to start the season strong and to continue the dominance that they’ve had in the past years. 

“I think that it’s gonna be a really good year for me and especially the team,” Liu said.