Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 1, 1990 TAG: 9006010070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
McDonald and Veloso did just that by writing the final chapter in their stirring rivalry and dominating area tennis. McDonald, a senior, will move on to East Carolina University in the fall; Veloso will return to William Byrd for her senior year.
McDonald was named the boys' tennis player of the year after finishing third in the Group AA singles tournament and teaming with Justin Barham to win the doubles title. He also played first singles for Salem, which finished second in Group AA as a team.
Veloso, playing in the boys' division because the Blue Ridge District does not provide a chance for girls to win state championships, lost only to McDonald this year.
When it came time to pick the top girls' player, coaches gave Veloso the edge because they felt she was a notch above those who competed in the girls' state tournament and would dominate if they met.
Salem's Dave Petersen (boys) and Grayson County's Judy Moser (girls) are the coaches of the year. Moser's Blue Devils won the Group A tournament and, like Petersen, she also had entries in the state singles and doubles competition.
McDonald said he was happy with his finish "though disappointed I didn't win it [the state championship]." He finished second last year as a junior.
The doubles' title relieved some of the disappointment for McDonald, who qualified for the state tournament even when Salem was in Group AAA two years ago.
"It was my final shot," he said of the doubles. "I've been there before and haven't won anything, so it helped to win something."
Veloso says she is not unhappy about having to compete against boys, though it is difficult for her to win a state title. The consensus is that Veloso could have beaten Group AA champion Laura McNeely of Bruton; she has a much higher ranking than the Williamsburg native in the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Association.
"I think about playing in the girls' division, but it wouldn't be that much competition," said Veloso, who like McDonald plays on a tournament circuit in the summer and fall.
"It would be fun to say I've won a state championship, but high school tennis is not as good as other tennis."
Despite Salem's success and the presence of McDonald, Petersen said this was not one of his most talented squads.
"I didn't expect us to get by Northside," he said of the Spartans' Blue Ridge Conference rival. "When we beat them, the kids said, `Hey, maybe we can do something.' And we beat Blacksburg 8-1.
"That's when the kids said they could make state tennis. Their attitude changed. They worked harder in practice."
Petersen beat out Glenvar's Art Lawrence, whose team lost the Group A final to George Mason. It was the end of a big year for Lawrence, whose basketball team went to the Region C tournament.
Moser has been coaching at Grayson County since 1978 and her teams have won three state championships and been runner-up three other times. Moser's teams have won the Mountain Empire District in all but two of her seasons.
Moser beat out Salem's Marsha Grey, whose team made the Group AA tournament.
by CNB