Eight lettermen, heading by six seniors, will lead the Oak Harbor High School boys tennis team in 2010.

The returnees include seniors Josh Evans, Ben Cardinal, Brandon Vagt, David DeGuzman, Max O’Dell and Geoff Worley; junior Ben Harrison; and sophomore Will Southard.

Coach Horace Mells said his lineup could change, but as of last week the top four singles spots were held by Evans, Cardinal, Vagt and DeGuzman.

In doubles, the No.1 through No. 4 tandems are O’Dell/Worley, Southard/Harrison, Eric Berner/Mike Serna and Maric Sobero/Harrison Miller. Marvyn Sionson is also in the mix for a doubles spot.

The move by Oak Harbor from the predominately 4A Wesco North to the new Wesco 3A division is generally seen as providing easier competition for the Wildcats. However, Mells said, “I am expecting tougher competition because all of the schools we will be playing have access to indoor tennis. We will do our best to prepare and should be competitive with all schools.”

Mells sees Shorewood as the top contender for the Wesco 3A title, and he expects Everett and Glacier Peak to be tough.

Because the new courts at Oak Harbor High School are still under construction, the ‘Cats will have to hit the road for their first five matches, beginning with a trip to Mountlake Terrace Thursday, Sept. 9, at 3:45 p.m.

The goal is for the OHHS courts to be finished in time for the sixth match with Meadowdale Monday, Sept. 20, at 3:45.

Oak Harbor finished 2009 with a 2-14 record.