BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

LARNED — Larned High features four returning state qualifiers — No. 1 singles D.J. Mead and No. 2 singles Dalton Penka and the No. 1 doubles team of Cadin Limon and Kobe Kraisinger.  
Larned tennis coach Mark Lessard is starting his second season as head boys coach after serving three years as an assistant coach.

Mead (15-6) placed fourth at 3A regionals last year. He defeated Hiawatha’s Joe Kunkel and lost to Sterling’s William Weiner and Shawnee Maranatha’s Aaron Bowlin at state. Penka (22-8) lost to Hutchinson Trinity’s Victor Chang and Maranatha’s Aaron Bowlin at state.
Limon and Kraisinger (14-15) placed sixth at regionals last year. They lost to South Barber’s Grant Cantrell and Spencer Kimmell and Hesston’s Kendrick Weaver and Jorge Morales at the 3A state tournament.

Junior veteran Nick Orth also returns and will start the season at No. 1 doubles with Kobe Kraisinger. Coach Lessard said he will also enter Orth in singles matches.
Larned’s Trevor Coulson also has varsity doubles experience.

LARNED ROSTER
SENIORS—Max Easley, Kobe Kraisinger, Cadin Limon, D.J. Mead, Brandon Perez
JUNIORS—Trevor Coulson, Nick Orth
SOPHOMORES—Andrew Bright, Logan Demond, Dalton Penka
NINTH-GRADE—Britton Herrman, Chance Sanger
SCHEDULE—3-30—at Hoisington; 4-4—at Ellsworth; 4-7—at Cimarron; 4-11—Larned; 4-20—at Sterling; 4-25—at Larned; 4-27—at Pratt; 5- 1—Central Kansas League at Hesston; 5-4-5—Pratt, 4A regional; 5-12-13—4A state, Salina