Marshalltown boys’ tennis is used to dealing with injuries in preseason, and leading up to the 2023 spring season there were multiple key players who were in the recovery process — including senior stars Jason Strand and Nile Christensen.

Strand spent the fall and winter gearing up for the season after struggling through 2022 with a stress fracture in his foot that limited him severely. Head coach James Christensen said that Strand has come into this season stronger than before and at 100 percent, while Nile is cleared for competition.

“Our top-end crew has really shown some high-level tennis, and I know they’ve been working this winter not just on the tennis court but in the weight room as well,” James said. “Jason, our probable No. 1 this year, he was injured all of last year and he’s moving much better this year. He’s one of those guys that’s really taken it seriously in the offseason trying to make himself a little sturdier and I think that’s not only helped him on the injury front but added some pop to his game.

“Nile’s kind of been through this process before, and he’s kind of on track with where he was last year. Just got medically cleared to start competing. He’s moving really well and is playing at a high level.”

Nile and Strand are two of the three state returners alongside senior Gavin Jablonski and there’s an expectation that this group of three — in addition to seniors Cael Sandvick and Drew Loney, who have varsity experience — will be the leadership core for the program in 2023. A new conference means some new opponents and some old, but James said he knows he can rely on this group of seniors to provide quality when needed and take the next step as individuals and as a unit.

Depth is also a topic of discussion with outdoor practices underway — as James said there’s hot competition for the final varsity doubles spots and a mix of underclassmen and seniors looking to establish spots in varsity meets. Isaac Benscoter is one who will likely make a big impact in the top-six, along with Jacob Thiessen and Dale Green and a slew of other underclassmen and seniors hoping to make an impact.

James said it’s at once a luxury and a difficult decision to make as a coach when there are more worthy competitors than varsity spots available in each meet.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that are competing for those spots,” James said. “It kind of makes it tough on a coach. With doubles, it’s not always as easy as throwing two guys out there. It’s a lot about chemistry and how they mesh together, so trying to find those best pairings is tough, especially in a short preseason like this.

“Having 15 or 16 guys that you’re comfortable throwing out there in a varsity match, that’s awesome.”

Marshalltown’s season kicks off Thursday at home against Des Moines Hoover, followed by the Valley Invite on Saturday against Des Moines East, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and host West Des Moines Valley.