MARYSVILLE — Turnout is steady for the Marysville-Pilchuck boys tennis team, which is looking to build upon a third-place finish in Wesco North last year despite the loss of five seniors to graduation.

Although that adds up to a loss of half the varsity roster, many high school tennis players pick up the racket for the first time in high school. With a strong set of kids paying their dues behind those seniors last year, talent and hard work could pay dividends for the Tomahawks this year.

“There are some big shoes to fill. We have some talent that is eager to try and do just that,” said coach Robert Sherry, who named seniors Shane Price, Lucas Stevens, Jared Rumsey and Luke Giesecke as four players who will have their turn in the limelight this season.

A big impact player for the Tomahawks this fall could be sophomore Corey Coombs. He’ll get the nod as the team’s No. 1 singles player after spending much of the offseason working on his tennis game in summer tournament play.

Sherry described Coombs as improved dramatically.

The Tomahawks tied Everett for third in last fall’s conference standings, with a 10-6 record. A loss to Cascade in the second-to-last match cost the boys a chance at second place.

Like this M-P squad, much of the league is an unknown quantity, counting on returning players stepping up and polishing their skills in the offseason. One plus has been increased turnout and the resurgence of a youth team after Marysville Junior High became Totem Middle School, ending the ninth-grade program there as all of the freshmen moved to the high school.

“You never know how you stack up until you start playing the matches as everyone’s teams change,” Sherry said. “Effort in practice has been very good.”

M-P began its league schedule Sept. 8 against Lake Stevens after the Globe went to press.

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