ALPENA — Compared to last season, when the Alpena High girls’ tennis team lacked match experience with a young group of athletes, the team now comes in with experience and an expectation to compete this year.

Audrey Decker, Madison Tolan, Gracie Tulgetska, Naomi Ratz, Megan Brown, and Hannah Tracey will all return for their senior seasons and are willing to take on any match in the Big North Conference.

“(Again, this season) is going to be a year of growth,” Alpena coach Charlie Giordano said. “We have five new players and several players playing new spots or with new partners. We have great seniors with good hearts and solid leadership.”

While the team’s previous youth has grown a year older, losing its two top players to graduation will prove a major challenge this season.

Bekah Carlson is the first name to highlight because of her past competitive nature among number-one singles.

Alongside Carlson, Alicia Carroll competed in number-two singles, leaving significant shoes to fill for future players.

Their talent and leadership qualities might leave a hole in this year’s team, but it also provides an opportunity for other student-athletes to improve and step up like experienced upperclassmen generally do.

Although it hurts to lose these athletes, Giordano stressed that “Losing seniors is never easy, but we have a great group coming in to carry on.”

Keeping this positive mindset and confidence within his team should lead to more growth and development for each player.

With spots to fill, Giordano first mentioned Decker as a name to take the next step in her tennis talents.

Decker is expected to replace Carlson, who stood out as Alpena’s top number-one singles player for the Wildcats.

In replacement of Carroll, Giordano deemed Tulgetska was the best fit, even though she played doubles in the past.

“Audrey Decker is playing one-singles this year,” he said. “She is a solid player with a great attitude. She is the right kind of player to handle the one spot. Gracie Tulgestka has moved from doubles to singles and is excited about the new challenge.”

Tolan and Brown will be holding down one-doubles alongside those two seniors while Tracey and Ratz secure the two-doubles.

These teams are expected to perform better than in the past, potentially a breakout chance for each of these girls.

“Madison Tolan and Megan Brown are heading up the doubles teams at the one spot, which is a big jump from last year, and they are ready. Naomi Ratz and Hannah Tracey will be playing two doubles this year, which will be a challenge, but they are up for it,” Giordano said.

For Giordano, expectations stay the same, and playing hard is all the coach can ask for out of his upperclassmen-led 2024 team.

“My expectations are the same as in the past,” he said. “Work hard, play fair, get one more ball back in play, have fun, and respect the game. If we can do that, our season will be a success.”