The Helias boys tennis team was making program history the last time it stepped on the court.
The Crusaders were prepared for another big year in 2020, until the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
"Last year was the best team Helias would have ever had," Helias coach Margaret Shimkus said. "The year before, they set the school record with a 14-1 record, and we only lost that one match in the quarterfinals. Those guys were on fire, they worked really, really hard all fall and winter. They were ready to go.
"But we have to live in the present, and we're going with it."
Helias opens the season today against Sedalia Smith-Cotton at the Crusader Athletic Complex. First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
"You learn so much during competition," Shimkus said. "There's only so much you can do in practice, as opposed to all the learning that goes on during matches."
The Crusaders have a 16-player roster this spring. However, only six players are upperclassmen.
"More than half the team has never played a match at the high-school level," Shimkus said.
The lone returner with varsity experience is senior Justin Francka, who finished third in singles to earn all-district honors in the 2019 Class 1 District 8 individual tournament. He'll take over at No. 1 singles.
"He hasn't lost any challenge matches at all, in doubles or singles," Shimkus said. "He doing really well. He's really been helpful for the younger guys."
Sophomores Andrew Dowden and Ethan Foucheaux will be No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in singles. Juniors Caleb Mueller, Matt Schepers and Jacob Zerr will round out the top six.
Caleb Porting and Lucas Woods, also sophomores, are in the varsity mix as well. The Crusaders' other senior, John Paul McGuire, is playing his first year for the team.
"We have strong sophomores on the team," Shimkus said. "They just need to get some experience under their belt."
Shimkus was hoping to have more of an idea on her doubles pairings ahead of today's match, but rainy weather Wednesday and Thursday forced practice indoors.
"We might get there a little early and get some playing in, see how they're practicing, see the feel and the communication," Shimkus said.
Helias has been working on a lot of the fundamentals in the first three weeks of practice.
"We've been working on the basics, the foundation," Shimkus said. "We're building our skills."
The Crusaders' first three matches are against Central Missouri Activities Conference opponents. Helias plays Monday at Hickman and hosts Rock Bridge on Tuesday, knocking out half the conference schedule in the first week of the season.
"We'll do the best we can," Shimkus said. "It's a good schedule, to see where we are."
In mid-April, the Crusaders play in three straight tournaments. The Helias Invitational is April 20, sandwiched between tournaments at Marshall and Smith-Cotton.
"I do like the way that's set up," Shimkus said. "In our tournament, we can play 12, so it gives a lot of the boys opportunities and experience to play in a tournament."
District assignments have not been released yet for spring sports. However, with three straight district titles from 2017-19, the Crusaders will have a championship factor of 1, which will move them up one class this season.