After five increasingly successful seasons as Manchester West boys tennis coach, including a 13-1 record and trip to the Class L finale in 2007, Shawna Morley was offered an opportunity at Bedford High she couldn’t refuse.

“I knew the community of Bedford and how serious they are and how much they support tennis,” she said. “The excitement about tennis in Bedford is huge, and I feel privileged I was given the opportunity to coach here.”

Morley cited the town’s addition of two tennis courts on County Road – bringing the total to the requisite six courts – and the fact there are nearly 30 athletes participating between the boys and girls squads this season as proof the town is committed to tennis.

“We’re very fortunate to be in a community as supportive as Bedford, and I think the interest in high school tennis is just going to explode, along with our success in upcoming years,” she said. “I only see good things and championship-caliber play in the future, and that’s what we’re beginning to establish. We’re going to be the real deal, and that’s exciting.”

In the program’s first season, Morley has mentored a group of freshman and sophomores to a 5-8 record.

More important than wins and losses, however, is the level of sportsmanship and maturity her athletes bring to the court.

“Really, the goal of ours this year was just to develop an appreciation and a respect for the game, and we’ve done that,” she said. “It’s exciting for me, especially concerning upcoming years, because these young men came in motivated to learn, and they respect coaching. So it’s really been a fun season.”

Leading Bedford are the team’s lone sophomores, Nate Denoncourt and Andrew Weeks, the Bulldogs No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Both played for West last season as the Blue Knights’ No. 7 and No. 8 players.

“We asked them this year to make a ladder jump of six spots, which is tough on anyone. I mean, the typical progression, even on a huge jump, would be moving up two or three spots on the ladder,” said Morley. “As our two captains, they really set the tone for us, and that’s asking a lot of sophomores. But they were definitely ready for that task, and they served as great role models.”

The captains also pair as the Bulldogs’ No. 1 doubles team.

Morley said freshman Myles Utell, the team’s No. 3, is on par with Denoncourt and Weeks in terms of talent.

“He’s just a quality player who can play No. 1 doubles but has really used his understanding of the game and versatility to make the No. 2 doubles team very good,” she said.

Wesley Maddox, Bedford’s No. 4 in singles, teams with Utell.

Brooks O’Donnell and Kyle Basoukas round out the starting lineup and form the third doubles unit.

Also contributing this season are Steven Troy, Eli Berg, Alex Vanderminden, Austin Drukker, Cam Tranchemontagne, Craig Tyler and Chad Johansen.