Fifty Powell High School students turned out for the tennis team this year and coach Ray Bieber says it’s “very, very, very competitive.”

Whether a player’s a freshman or a senior, “We’re an equal-opportunity employer, and that means let the best person win,” Bieber said.

An intrasquad tournament that shook out who’s on the varsity featured plenty of matches that took extra games to determine a winner.

“There were a few tears, but great competition,” Bieber said, praising the sportsmanship his players displayed. The event set the team’s initial varsity roster, but Bieber expects bids to change the lineup going forward.

“Hopefully, there’s going to be a lot of challenges and we’ll come up with the best group,” Bieber added.

The PHS team shifts to battling other schools on Friday and Saturday, when they travel to Green River and Rock Springs, respectively.

The girls squad is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory — a sixth-place finish at state — though they lost a few varsity players from that squad.

The boys, meanwhile, have six of eight players back from last year’s team, which finished 12th.

Bieber hopes the deep, competitive roster will help make his teams better.

Senior Cydney Barrus returns to the No. 1 singles position at the top of the Lady Panther lineup.

“Being a senior and being the second year at that position should help her quite a bit,” Bieber said, adding that Barrus improved over the summer.

Moving up to the No. 2 singles spot (from No. 1 doubles last year) is senior Laura Bright. Bieber said she’s excited by the challenge. He noted she has big shoes to fill — exchange student Anna Gransoe went undefeated in taking the No. 2 singles title last year — but, “I think she (Bright) will do fine and compete well.”

This year’s No. 1 doubles duo is seniors Josie Brinkerhoff and Rachel Anderson; Bieber noted they each played well at No. 2 doubles a year ago to reach the state semi-finals.

“We’re looking for a good senior year from them,” Bieber said.

Senior Aimee Kawano and sophomore Kelsi Barrus will team up at No. 2 doubles.

Bieber said Kawano is a really good and athletic doubles player while Kelsi Barrus showed great improvement in edging out several PHS teammates to make the team.

Starting out in the No. 3 doubles position will be freshman Hattie Pimentel and junior Madison Morrow. The two beat some good players and won some close intrasquad matches to earn the slots, Bieber said.

The coach also expects junior Madisen McDonald, sophomore Tessa Eller, junior Maria Kissner, junior Keegan McLain “as well as many other people,” to battle for varsity spots.

Over on the boys side, junior Cody Akin “has really improved his game,” Bieber said, and he’ll settle into his second year in the No. 1 singles slot.

“His fitness level has gotten way better and he should be competitive in every match this year,” Bieber said. “We’re looking forward to good things.”

Starting the year at No. 2 singles is senior Sterling Cozzens who Bieber said improved quite a bit this summer. He played at No. 2 doubles last year.

At No. 1 doubles are senior Matt Brown (who played No. 2 singles last year) and senior Jeffrey Pool (who played in the same position a year ago). Bieber expects them to fare “very well” together.

“It’s always nice to have a right-hander and a left-hander,” the coach added, praising their serving and volleying.

Juniors Kristian Stenlund and Blaze Flores will man the No. 2 doubles team at the season’s start. Bieber said Stenlund is an excellent doubles player and Flores has improved.

“We’re excited about them,” he said.

Rounding out the varsity squad in the No. 3 doubles position will be juniors Dallin North — a recent transplant — and Miles Rumbolz. Bieber said the two players prevailed through many close matches in the team’s internal tournament.

“We have tons of people right on right on their heels,” Bieber added.

Among those who the coach expects to compete to crack the varsity are junior Chase Wentz and freshmen James Sheets and Rhett Pimentel. Bieber said they’re among an exciting group of freshmen.

Bieber said the team has a really nice traveling schedule this fall, with the weekend’s visit to Green River and Rock Springs being the only overnight trip. Regionals will be held in Cody with state in Gillette.