Prep boys’ tennis preview: 5 players to watch

TATE FREEMAN

School: Ferndale

Year: Junior

Outlook: Freeman finished as a second-team All-NWC player last season and lost in the regional tournament to a Marysville-Pilchuck in a pairing with Colin Young. Should be one of Golden Eagles’ best as junior.

DARREN MA

School: Sehome

Year: Junior

Outlook: Will be a doubles player again this season, after pairing with Reece Gilbert last year in the postseason. He’s projected to pair with Matthieu Jarrett in the No. 1 doubles spot and brings some postseason experience with him.

ZACH NOLAN

School: Bellingham

Year: Junior

Outlook: Was one of the Red Raiders’ top doubles players last year, as he teamed with partner Chris Nakatani to put together a 21-3 record, before losing to a Sehome pairing in the district consolation round.

AUSTIN SHENTON

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

Outlook: Shenton may be headed to a career in baseball, but he’s one heck of a tennis player too. He was a second-team All-NWC selection last season while finishing 18-2 in singles play and made the quarterfinals of districts.

MAX SHMOTOLOHKA

School: Sehome

Year: Senior

Outlook: The All-Whatcom County Player of the Year last season went 21-2 in the fall season, making it to the state semifinals in the spring and finished fourth at the Class 2A level. He should be the top player in the NWC again this year.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Prep boys’ tennis preview: 5 players to watch."