WHITEHALL — Whitehall's boys tennis team had a fine 2025, making the state meet for the third time in four years and finishing just outside the overall top 10. Although the Vikings graduated almost the entire top half of their lineup from that team - No. 2 doubles player Remington Whelpley is the only one of the six players in the top two flights to return - coach Greg McManus said his players' expectations haven't changed.
"The team just feels what the expectation is, whether they know what it is (like to play at state) or not," McManus said. "A lot of them haven't been there, haven't qualified for state or anything like that, but these guys are going to push and push and push. Whether we make it or not, they're going to feel like that's what we're playing for."
Whitehall doesn't have any freshmen on this year's team, McManus said, so everyone who will be playing did so last year, even if they weren't necessarily in the starting lineup. The competition for top lineup spots early on could be as compelling as the ones against opponents. McManus said three players are in hot pursuit of the No. 1 singles position: senior Whelpley, sophomore Wyatt Burger and senior Elijah Roberge. Burger, who's the younger brother of the 2024-25 No. 1 player William, played No. 3 singles last year and had a strong season, and Roberge was part of the No. 3 doubles flight.
Burger and Whelpley each, to McManus, seem like they've been around forever, Burger because of his family history and Whelpley because he was a team manager in eighth grade before joining the roster. Their competitive fire will be an asset to the lineup wherever they land.
"Their work ethic is great," McManus said of the two. "Wyatt can't get enough tennis, and the same with Remy. Remy has got an extremely high work ethic and is very passionate...He's got a lot of pride and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He's got something to prove every year. They're going to push each other."
Whitehall's other returning players are Lukas McKee, who played No. 4 doubles, and Scout Freiheit, who was at No. 4 singles. They've put in a lot of time in the offseason and McManus expects it to pay dividends.
Another returner, from 2023, is senior Jones McDowell. McDowell played as a freshman but hadn't returned to the team until now. He too brings a competitive edge to the court that could help push him past more experienced foes.
"He's a little bit of a wild card because he doesn't have senior experience, but he's very aggressive and he wants to win in the worst way," McManus said. "He's going to give you everything he has."
Jack Koegel wasn't a starter a year ago, but was very close to it, said McManus, and he will get his shot this fall.
McManus preached to his team in preseason practices about playing smart. He knows his Vikings probably aren't talented enough to rack up a bunch of wins without doing that, but he's also been around the sport enough to know smart players can often beat more gifted ones.
"We're going to have to play percentages," McManus said. "We can't play flashy. If we can get the kids to understand their role and positioning...If we can make them smart, we're going to do a lot better than expected by just watching a kid hit a ball. (Someone might say), 'That kid's not very good,' but he knows where to be, and he knows how to hit the ball."
Whitehall is in one of the state's most competitive regionals each year, and even more so this year with Ludington joining the fray. An array of Grand Rapids-area private schools are in the region - Grand Rapids West Catholic was sixth in the state last year and Grand Rapids Catholic Central tied for ninth - along with always-strong North Muskegon. The Vikes will see all of their top competition by Sept. 12. One advantage: They'll host the regional for the second straight year.
The confidence is there among the players slated to make up the top half of the lineup. If Whitehall can build the depth that all good tennis teams have, that's what could make the difference.
"If we can figure out our threes and fours, whether at singles or doubles, and we can get those guys to win at least half their matches, I think that depth is going to help us," McManus said.
