North Kitsap’s boys tennis team was overflowing with talent in the 2024 state tournament last spring, and that might be an understatement, but they could be even better this fall.

Nearly all state-bound schools in the 2A bracket arrived in Seattle with no more than one doubles team, and only four schools could boast multiple entries. The Vikings were the sole exception, as all three doubles teams finished in the top five.

NK won the 2A championship, and with a full school year to go until the return to state in May and strong numbers, coach Jay DeVries sees no reason why the Vikings could not repeat.

“We’re as good as we were last year,” he said at a Sept. 17 match against Kingston. “It’s a little different makeup, but we’re a year more seasoned, Indigo and Dayshawn especially.”

Senior Indigo Gallagher-Zapf tops the Vikings’ list of singles players after his 2023-24 season led him to state, even though he lost his two matches. Also vying for state is last season’s alternate Dayshawn Harper.

NK looks even stronger in doubles. Back are seniors Justin Gallant and Mason Repp, who finished second at state. Aside from the advantage the pair holds with opposite dominant hands, DeVries credits their overall athleticism and work they put in year-round.

How much work? “Lots of tennis,” right-hander Repp said. Work that would otherwise be spent on a winter sport was spent at whatever court they could find. “The local tennis club, they have a play-around that we would go to every single week and play for a few hours. That’s what I give a lot of credit to because there was so much match play there that made us very familiar with how to win.”

Gallant, the lefty, added: “We’re really familiar with one another and who we’re going to be on the court. Just trusting one another and continuing the work. It will take us places.”

Half of each of the two other state qualifying doubles teams sticking around created an easy solution for DeVries, combining junior Spencer Gillespie and sophomore Grady DeVries to create what he believes will be another contending pair. “It’ll be strange cause you’ll get two years of this duo, but what happens when Grady is a senior will be interesting,” coach DeVries said.

Indigo Gallagher-Zapf of NK strikes a clean hit in a singles match against Kingston.