GREEN RIVER — The Green River High School tennis program will enter the 2026 season with a young boys’ roster, a group of experienced girls returning to varsity competition and plenty of momentum from a successful season a year ago.

The Green River boys won the 4A South Conference championship last season before finished eighth as a team at the Wyoming High School State Tennis Championships in Gillette.

Head coach Phillip Harder knows this year’s boys’ team will look different after graduating five of the eight players from last season’s varsity group, but he believes the returning players and several former junior varsity competitors can keep Green River competitive.

“We have a young team but they are competitive,” Harder said.

Blaise Taylor, Lucas Arnold and Kaiden Olson are the three returning varsity boys Harder expects to make an impact this season.

Arnold and Olson reached the regional championship match at No. 2 doubles last season, finishing second, while Taylor and Quentin Bundy won the No. 3 doubles regional championship. At the state tournament, Arnold and Olson advanced to the semifinals at No. 2 doubles, while Quentin’s brother Ethan Bundy and Taylor battled through the consolation bracket to finish fourth last year.

Harder also expects several players who competed at the junior varsity level last season to push for varsity spots. Quentin Bundy, Jacob Britton and Nixon Frey are among those looking to step into larger roles.

The Wolves will have plenty of experience returning on the girls’ side as well.

Rylin Arnell is back at No. 1 singles, while Sydney Lopez and Brynley Beutel return as the projected No. 1 doubles team. The duo of Bianca Maez and Taylor Kendall are back at doubles as well.

Meghan Thomas, who played a number of varsity matches in different positions last season, also returns and is expected to be a strong competitor for a varsity spot.

Green River’s girls finished 11th at last year’s state tournament. Arnell advanced through the consolation bracket at No. 1 singles, while Lopez and Beutel, Maez and Kendall, and other Green River doubles teams each picked up victories at state.

The foundation for this season began during the summer.

Harder said most of the returning players spent the offseason playing and competing through open courts, camps and tournaments. The high school courts were frequently busy, with the lights staying on most evenings as players continued to get repetitions.

That preparation will be important as the Wolves work toward establishing their lineups.

Green River has several weeks before conference matches begin, giving Harder and his players time to evaluate different combinations in singles and doubles.

“We have a few weeks to get our lineup set before our conference matches begin,” Harder said. “So getting the kids matches in both singles and doubles and switching up partners to see what works best for the team.”

The process will be especially important for a boys’ team replacing much of last season’s varsity lineup. Rather than immediately locking players into positions, Harder plans to use early competition to determine which combinations give the Wolves the best chance to succeed.

For the girls, the presence of several returning varsity players provides a more experienced foundation.

Harder will also have a sizable senior group on the team. Some of those seniors have been part of the program since they first began playing in Green River’s winter and summer tennis camps as first-graders.

“Pretty amazing to watch them grow up,” Harder said.

While the personnel changes from season to season, Harder’s approach remains centered on fundamentals, repetition and continued development.

The Wolves will continue using drills, games and strategy work that have been staples of the program, while Harder plans to introduce new drills each season.

“You have to adjust and grow, both players and coaches,” Harder said.

That combination of returning experience, young players competing for expanded roles and an offseason spent on the courts gives Green River plenty to work with as the new season gets underway.

After a boys’ conference championship and regional title last fall, the Wolves will begin the 2026 season looking to develop a new lineup while building on the foundation established by last year’s team.