Submitted photo Front row (l-r): Aiden Weller-Caputo, Thomas Lehne, Griffin Lehne, Isaac Dittmer, Logan Sondag-Bode, Tobias Forstner, Jay Luker, Charles Sharits Back row (l-r): Carson Jenness, Emmett Gaalswyck, Noah Braun, Rylan Dressel, Wyatt Feucht, Everett Brown, Henry Albrecht, Ryan Martinka, Charlie Weidman, Ryan Johnson, Dan Brownfield, Cole Frederick, Luther Beran.

NEW ULM — New Ulm will look to its strong senior leadership to help them have a strong spring tennis season, with its top three singles players returning from last year.

Charlie Weidman, Dan Brownfield and Isaac Dittmer manned the number one, two and three singles spots, respectively, and now will look to have strong senior seasons as they serve as the top end of the singles rotation once again. Weidman posted a 9-7 record last year, while Brownfield was 11-5 and Dittmer was 11-4.

“Wyatt Feucht was at [No. 2] doubles and might be grabbing that fourth singles spot, and he is also a senior,” 14th-year New Ulm head coach Peter Engeldinger said. “Really like how things look on paper at singles at the start of the season.”

More seniors on Henry Albrecht and Everett Brown will figure to help on the doubles team as New Ulm looks for athletes to step up in those spots.

“We’ll have to see how things shake out for matchups in doubles,” Engeldinger said. “We need ten guys for the varsity lineup who are competitive, and I think we have that, so that’s exciting to start the season with.”

Also looking to contribute on varsity are junior Thomas Lehne and his freshman brother Griffin Lehne.

“It’s tough to know for sure who is going to step up, especially with the new guys, until we see them in action at meets,” Engeldinger said.

New Ulm posted a 5-10 record as a team last season and narrowly lost to New Prague in the first round of the section tournament last year. This year, the Big South Conference figures to be strong, and New Ulm will rely on its returning experience to improve on last year’s record.

“We are always working on improving our tennis IQ, deciding on the best shot for the given situation, staying patient during the point, living to see another shot, keeping things high percentage, knowing when to go for it and when stay calm,” Engeldinger said. “Also, second serve is the deal maker or breaker, so that’s always tops on our to do list.”

Engeldinger sees St. James Area, St. Peter, Waseca, Fairmont, Redwood Valley and Blue Earth Area as all teams to watch out for in the conference, with Hutchinson, Waconia and New Prague all adding some extra challenge in the section. Engeldinger said the team also scheduled some new matchups in Albert Lea, Holy Angels and Yellow Medicine East, so the Eagles should get some added experience from the fresh opponents.