Thomas Jefferson Raiders
Coach: Andrew Buchan, 21st year
Last year’s record: 10-0, first in SPSL Central
Key losses: Makoa Rosa; Brandyn Gomez; Josh Pahang.
Key returners: Sr. Kainoa Rosa; Jr. Alex Lee; Sr. James Lee; Jr. Richard Ban; Jr. Tyler Hamashima; Sr. Russell Stelzer; Soph. Vivek Ramanujan; Soph. Zack Martin.
Key newcomers: Soph. Hakeem Clark; Sr. Paul Oh; Fr. Cameron Martin; Jr. Abishak Murali.
Notable: The Raiders return several members of a team that finished unbeaten and won the SPSL Central Division championship. And longtime head coach Andrew Buchan says this year’s TJ squad is better than a season ago.
“This is the strongest team I have ever coached at TJ,” said Buchan, who is entering his 21st year. “With all but two people returning from last year, we are loaded.”
Senior Kainoa Rosa played the last two seasons with his older brother, Makoa, and placed at the state tournament both years. Rosa will move to the No. 1-singles court this season and will be one of the best in the SPSL. Alex Lee and James Lee will take over for the Rosas on the No. 1-doubles court. Alex Lee played at the state tournament a season ago and James Lee advanced to the West Central District Tournament two years ago.
Federal Way Eagles
Coach: Jerome Collins
Last year’s record: 4-6, fourth in SPSL Central
Key losses: Gorav Gupta and Brett Evans
Key returners: Soph. Mitch Stewart; Sr. Ben Blackner; Jr. Alex Lewis; Jr. Napoleon Huynh; Jr. Sean Hwang; Jr. Alex Dahl; Soph. Daniel Chung; Soph. Luke Newman.
Key newcomers: None listed
Notable: The Eagles bring back Mitch Stewart for his sophomore season after he finished as the Class 4A runner-up at the state tournament during his freshman year.
Stewart is also coming off an impressive summer season. He recently won the Pacific Northwest Championship Sectional Tournament in the 16-under division on Aug. 22 in Beaverton, Ore. Stewart also played in tournaments in Louisiana, Illinois and Michigan this summer, losing only three matches against national-level challengers.
According to tennisrecruiting.net, Stewart is the top tennis recruit in the Northwest and the 11th-best recruit in the nation for the Class of 2014.
Todd Beamer Titans
Coach: Patrick Nam, 1st year
Last year’s record: 0-10, sixth in the SPSL Central
Key losses: Jay Lee; Danny Kim; Jesse Hong; Nic Cooke; Ryan Wolfe.
Key returners: Sr. Joseph de la Cruz; Soph. Sam Yi; Jr. Jimmie Stone.
Key newcomers: Jr. Jesse Fite; Fr. Max Dalrymple; Soph. Ken Chambers.
Notable: Things can only get better for the Titans under first-year coach Patrick Nam. Beamer finished winless in the SPSL Central Division last year, but return state veteran Joseph de la Cruz for his senior season. De la Cruz has played singles at the state tournament in all three seasons at Beamer. Also back are junior Jimmie Stone and sophomore Sam Yi.
“My prediction is we will land somewhere in the lower ranks of the league, but will be a more competitive team than last year and win a few matches,” Nam said.
Decatur Gators
Coach: John Cassens, 6th year
Last year’s record: 6-4 in the SPSL 3A
Key losses: Abishak Murali
Key returners: Josh Park; Cameron Keller; Peter An; Robbie Thomas; Paul Pak; Colby Brotherton; Steve Kang; Caleb Ramsey.
Key newcomers: Kenneth Sheedy; Jet Hagenauer; Chris Rodriguez; Mitchell Grant; Linsey Sanchez.
Notable: The Gators had a solid first year in the SPSL 3A Division, finishing with a 6-4 record and return plenty of talent from a season ago. Decatur, however, will miss the play of Abishak Murali, who will be playing at Jefferson this season after transferring. Murali played singles at the district tournament last year.
