Ashton Gerard/MDN Minot High School's Rory Taney, right, and Zach Diehl warm up before tennis practice Tuesday at Hammond Park in Minot.

After the explosive success the Minot High girls tennis program had in the spring, head coach Scott DeLorme is ready for the guys to have the same success this fall.

“I think the girls’ success last spring really catapulted them to play this summer,” DeLorme said. “We’ve seen these kids more this summer than we have in a lot of summers, which is going to be a huge asset to us.”

After winning the regular season WDA last year, the Magicians took second in the WDA tournament and fifth at the state tournament. The team finished their season 14-5 with a 5-1 WDA record.

“Of that team, we did lose three of our top four,” DeLorme said. “Early on this year, we’ll look at Mason (Diehl) to do some really good things for us, but we’re not at a shortage of experience.”

The Magi have returning varsity players in seniors Rory Taney, Peyton Huss and freshman Zachary Diehl. Overall, they’re bringing back four varsity players that will help lead.

“Zach Diehl, he’s only a freshman, he’ll play at No. 2 for us,” DeLorme said. “He came out at the state tournament last year all of a sudden. He took one of the best players in the state to three sets… and from that point forward we’ve just seen a different type of player.”

To Huss, the team has been working hard while making sure they have fun and keep the mood light.

“Every year it gets a little bit more competitive and with it being senior year, it’ll be nice to finish off one more (season) with my two other seniors and we’ll see how the season goes,” Huss said.

Mason Diehl was excited to see so many members of the team putting in hours over the summer in tournaments and on the courts for camps together.

“I’m excited to see these young guys step into positions and do what needs to be done,” Diehl said. “Most guys came out and hit everyday.”

Diehl said through the tournaments over the summer, everyone got to experience what it would take to play at the varsity level and what it takes to win.

“I’d like to win WDA individually and as a team, for sure,” Diehl said about his goals for the season.

Junior Jack Wolsky is an athlete DeLorme will have his eye on to have some breakout performances. Wolsky played at No. 8 or 9 last season and has shot up to the No. 4 spot to begin this year.

With the returners come so newer faces to the courts.

“To mix in the young crew that we have, not only are they young, but they’re talented,” DeLorme said.

Early on, DeLorme will be shuffling around different athletes to see who is truly ready for the varsity position.

The Magicians will begin their season Friday with three non conference matches against Bismarck Century, Jamestown and Mandan at Hammond Park in Minot beginning at 10 a.m.

“We have three non conference matched in the round robin on Friday but we’re really excited about what we do have,” DeLorme said. “I think we’re going to be pretty good this year and we definitely have a good foundation for the future, too.”