by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — 10 things to know about the Wellington High School girls tennis team:

1. The essentials:

Head coach: Brian Aufdengarten, 16th year. Notable accomplishments last season: Wellington doubles team of sisters Madi and Mekenna Adams placed seventh at the Class 4A State Tournament. Madi Lewellen and Dietra Sober also qualified for state. 

2.  No. of returning starters: There are four returning varsity players from a year ago.

3. The varsity roster:

Aufty has eight varsity players who will be interchangeable throughout the year. Those girls will be: MeKenna Adams, Madison Lewellen, Abby Lowe, Lexis Saffell, Avery Rusk, Lauryn Snipes, Jacelyn Buck and Kylie Aufdengarten.  Snipes joins the team as a senior after not playing since her freshman year. Rusk hasn’t played since the eighth grade.

4. No. of players on the roster.

There are 22 girls out this year, which is the largest number of players Aufdengarten has had in several years.

5. Potential starters:

•Mekenna Adams, who finished seventh at state in doubles last year went 25-13 last season. She also finished third at regionals with her sister.

•Madison Lewellen, who was a state qualifier in doubles with Dietra Sober. Lewellen’s doubles team finished 26-10 last season and took fifth at regionals.

•Abby Lowe was 15-15 in singles last year on varsity.

  •Lexi Saffell was 20-8 last season in doubles and singles. 

“I’m not sure who the top six will be at this time,” Aufdengarten said.

6. Potential starters for Wellington tournament Tuesday:

Wellington tennis team opens the season Tuesday at home. This is the tentative starting lineup:

Singles: Lewellen and Lowe.

Doubles: Adams and Kylie Aufdengarten, No. 1 doubles; Lauryn Snipes and Avery Rusk, No. 2 doubles.

7. Crusader strengths:

“The fact we have so many players out this season is a big strength,” Aufdengarten said.

8. Crusader weaknesses:

  “The skill levels are really varying this year,” Aufdengarten said. “We have a lot of first time players. It is tougher to stretch varsity meets to the top 12 players. We probably aren’t ready for varsity level matches yet.”

9. Key stretch for you:

There are five tournaments in particular during the regular season: our first tournament, Ark City, Tournament of Champions, Wichita Collegiate, and Pratt.

10. The schedule:

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