MARYSVILLE — Boys and girls from all over Snohomish County gathered at Totem Middle School to improve their tennis skills and compete as part of the Marysville Thunderbirds junior tennis team.

Leading the way is tennis coach Arnie Moreno, who has more than 30 years of teaching and coaching experience. During the school year, Moreno coaches Shorewood High School’s boys and girls varsity teams.

“I started teaching here when I saw that there were few opportunities for young kids in the area to learn tennis,” Moreno said. “This is a great avenue for kids to come out and compete. There are a lot of clubs coming from the Shoreline area, so instead of just taking lessons we offer them good competition.”

In its first action of the season, Marysville played Aqua Swim and Tennis Club from Bothell and earned victories from Marina Ciferri, Alisa Smith and Phillip Hoffman.

“The team plays matches where players focus on improving their skills and sportsmanship in a competitive match,” Moreno said. “It’s a great experience for both the younger and older players.”

This year’s team has 23 players ranging in age from 11 to 15. Because of a lack of junior programs, Marysville draws players from Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Everett and Lakewood. This year’s squad is Moreno’s largest and youngest team since he started in Marysville five years ago.

“I usually have high school junior varsity and varsity players,” Moreno said. “But this season I see that there is just one player who plays high school tennis. But I find it very enjoyable to be able to teach and help improve younger players. It will help them now and in the future.”

Over three decades of coaching, Moreno has tutored many players who have gone on to play and excel on high school tennis teams.

“That could work against me,” he said. “Ultimately, I coach players from programs like this one in Marysville and they come back and compete against my players at Shorewood. Sometimes my players win and sometimes the players that I have coached win. Although I love it when we win, I am thrilled for the other player, too.”

Marysville plays each of the league’s five teams once and then finishes with a tournament held at the Harbor Square Tennis Club and the Klahaya Swim and Tennis Club. Both venues are located in Edmonds.

The goal for Moreno is that the program at Marysville becomes a feeder program for the surrounding high schools.

“That’s exactly what this program is,” Moreno said. “I want these players to move on and play at the next level. The program can work to improve these players so that when they reach high school they will have a good feel for competitive tennis.”

Marysville hosts the Klahaya Swim and Tennis Club of Shoreline beginning at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 20, at Totem Middle School.