Piedmont High School’s boys tennis team should still be one of the better teams in the East Bay. But coach Jim Landes said he also has some questions his players are going to need to answer during the season.
“Honestly, we’re weaker than last year because I lost four starters,” Landes said, referencing Ben Breber, Graham Alban, Monte Imburg and Arun Brahma.
But Landes still has some experience at the top of the ladder. No. 1 singles Lucas Smolko is back after a tremendous freshman year.
“He’s better,” Landes said. “I think he had a tough year last year. He’s bigger, faster, stronger [now]. I think his serve has improved. But psychologically he’s better. He doesn’t get as upset with himself, he’s calmer. I hope that continues.”
Junior Nate Welch will move up to No. 2 singles to start the season. “He for sure has improved,” Landes said. “Nate has a gigantic serve. When that’s working, he can win matches. What we’re trying to work on him is settling down. Not having to hit every ball as hard as he can. His consistency has improved.”
Senior Nick King will be No. 3 singles. He’s a part-time player who played on the football team in the fall. “Nick doesn’t play during the offseason,” Landes said. “But he’s a very talented athlete. So he always starts off the season rusty. He’ll start playing every day and he’ll get much better. His serve is already much better than last season.”
Will Tenney is another senior who is starting the year at No. 4 singles. However, Gianluca Bini, a senior who just finished starring for Piedmont’s California Interscholastic Federation Division 5 Northern regional championship soccer team, is coming out to play high school tennis for the first time. Landes is intrigued.
“He hasn’t played for me,” Landes said. “He’s 6-3. When he starts playing I don’t know where he’ll play. He could play singles.”
Senior Kasper Jansson and sophomore Hunter Fasteau are starting out at the top of the doubles ladder. Freshmen Luka LaForte and Ben Davis are No. 2. Other teams will be formed, likely from freshman Emilio Misra, and seniors Will Richardson and Torsten Olsen.
Last year, the Highlanders tied for second in the West Alameda County Conference Foothill division with Berkeley behind just Bishop O’Dowd. Landes said this year’s team should be in a similar position. The goal is to make the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs and try to advance deep in the tournament.