Everywhere you go on campus, you can't help but notice the upgrades around the Marion tennis program. The tennis courts remain in immaculate shape after more than a decade's worth of use, while increased seating allows for larger crowds at home matches. Windscreens boasting the school's branded logo adorn most of the courts and can easily be seen from the road by passers-by. Behind the scenes, the tennis team has a vastly revamped dressing and storage area. “This has been such a great place for us to be this past year or so,” said second-year tennis coach Jamie White. “Our administration has gone above and beyond to make this program a priority and it's really, really awesome.” White initiated a series of competitions during off-season workouts this summer to motivate players during mundane times, handing out a “juicer” award for a player who brought the best attitude and effort to that day's workout, as well as an “ace” player who came up with some of the more impressive shots on that particular day. The result seems to be a particularly close tennis program as the first match of 2024 comes into focus with 12 girls and six boys highlighting the latest edition of Patriot tennis this fall. The 2024 tennis breakdown shows just one senior in tennis, along with four juniors, six second-year players, and seven tennis rookies. On the boys side, seniors Eli White, Aldo Sotelo, and Brayden Derrick double as the only 12th-graders in the entire program, while third-year player Isaac Pillaro joins rookies Nathaniel Ervin and Tucker Rogers on the boys team. “We like our guys team because we feel we have the right mix of talent and experience there,” said White. “We have some more experienced players to go with the younger ones.” As Marion's top two, Eli White and Sotelo absorbed many of the varsity reps a season ago, and will likely be the school's top doubles tandem this fall. Look for Derrick, who is the senior class president, Pillaro, Ervin, and Rogers to compete through the season for singles reps, while potentially dabbling in doubles competition. Third-year players Aubrie Weaver, Lily Holloway, and Kaden Foret, second-year players Jaclyn Burch, Chloe Griggs, Alayla Peoples, and Markaria Thomas and first-year participants Ella White, Michelle Strickland, Rashi Patel, and Rachel Coe make up the girls roster. “We have had a lot of competition between our girls this summer,” said White. “There are a couple who win most of the time, but after those top couple of players, it's very close.” Weaver just missed qualifying for the state tournament last year after winning a pair of matches at the conference meet, and she could be one of the better players in the league again this fall. Ella White is in her first year of varsity competition but with a bevy of experience outside the school setting. Holloway and Foret impressed coaches last season as a doubles tandem and could be the school's top doubles team this fall. Burch, Griggs, Riedl, Peoples, and Thomas all had productive off-seasons honing their skills. Strickland, who is on the girls soccer team, Patel, and Coe quickly learned the game over the summer upon joining tennis.