by MICHAEL DASHIELL

Sequim Gazette

One of Sequim head coach Mark Textor’s concerns last fall was the depth of his young Wolves squad.

That team went 8-0 to capture Sequim’s ninth outright or share of a league championship in 10 years and advanced three players to the state 2A tournament.

Such is the case again in 2011, as the Wolves look to rebuild another league title-contending team.

Textor figures North Kitsap and Port Angeles once again should be the Wolves’ toughest matches this season. North Kitsap’s Vikings, Textor says, has most of the pieces back that can reach the top of league.

“We hope to finish in the upper half of the league this year,” Textor says.

Leading the charge is senior Byron Boots, who partnered with Michael Lee to take sixth place at districts and win one of three state 2A tourney matches.

“He’s got an all-around good game — good overhead, good serve,” Textor says of Boots. “His mental game is so good. He’s tough and intelligent.”

Also back are a slew of upperclassmen with plenty of varsity experience, including senior Waylon Lam (a district tourney qualifier in 2010-2011), seniors Andrew Gunstone and Evan Hill, and junior Donovan Lee.

“We’re going to beat a lot of teams,” Textor says. “We’ve got super-great attitudes. They are very coachable and improving every day.”

Textor also figures several freshmen and junior varsity squad players from 2010, including Royhon Agostine, Wes Gilchrist, Emanuel Herrera and William Prorok, will see plenty of varsity time this fall.

But experience beyond the top 10 or 11 of Sequim’s 21-player roster is a little slim, Textor says.

“Depth is going to be a problem this year,” he says.

The Wolves open with Kingston today, Sept. 7, and are at Port Townsend on Sept. 9. The Wolves host Bremerton on Sept. 14 before a big match-up at rival Port Angeles Sept. 16.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.