ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
OLD AND NEW FACES share the honors as Blacksburg senior Robert Gibb is named boys' player of the year and freshman Ashleigh Sarver of Bland wins the girls' award.
This was the year of the newcomer and the veteran in Timesland tennis.
Glenvar's Art Lawrence, who hardly needs an introduction in high school tennis circles after his team won a fifth consecutive Group A boys' team championship, is boys' coach of the year.
Bland's Ashleigh Sarver headed a slew of successful freshmen in state play to win the Timesland award as girls' tennis player of the year.
Blacksburg's Robert Gibb, a veteran of some fine Indian state tournament teams of the past, is boys' player of the year after finishing second in Group AA competition.
Radford's Betty Branch and Susan Cox share the girls' coaching award after they teamed to help the Bobcats finish second in the Group A tournament.
Lawrence is the story of the year after a surprising state title run. The Highlanders returned only two experienced players. It wasn't a matter of winning another state title, but a question of whether Glenvar would survive Pioneer District play.
Josh Williamson moved from No.2 to No.1 singles while Tommy Lesperance, who was No.5, jumped to the second spot and teamed with Williamson in doubles.
``Then we had a senior, Ryan Teague, who hadn't played a lot at No.3. He had hardly any match experience,'' said Lawrence. ``He had been on the team three years and never made the top six.''
Erik Johnston was at No.4, but the player slated for the fifth spot quit and his successor broke a shoulder blade. Pankil Patel, who played soccer, settled at No.5 while Mandy Wimmer won sixth position to follow in the footsteps of her brother, Will Wimmer, who played on the 1992 team that started the string.
``We were really inexperienced,'' said Lawrence. ``They just got better every week, and handled the pressure in the region and in the state.''
It was always a thrill in the state. Glenvar defeated West Point in a rain-delayed match that stretched over two days. That left the Highlanders facing George Mason, a school that dominated Group A tennis until the Highlanders took over.
``The George Mason coach watched us play West Point,'' said Lawrence. ``He felt like he'd win three, four, five and six singles to be up 4-2.''
Instead, Glenvar led 4-2 heading into doubles and won twice for the state team title.
``Each week, we were just glad to be at the next round,'' said Lawrence. ``The kids kept winning. Part of it is once you get that reputation being tough kids. It was also special that we won on the same courts [at West Point] where we started all this.''
Sarver and Blacksburg's Hilu Yasamine, who was in the Group AA finals, were two of the four freshmen who have made the state semifinals the past two springs in either Group A or AA. Sarver was magnificent in winning the state title as she beat Kristen Hull of Buffalo Gap 6-3, 6-0.
``It was a surprise [that I won]. I was pretty happy,'' said Sarver, whose father plays a lot of tennis and teaches the sport at Fincastle Country Club.
``I was just hoping to get to the state singles and doubles. I really didn't think about winning it that much,'' said Sarver, who also plays volleyball for Bland.
Gibb had a 13-2 record after losing in the Group A finals to Waynesboro's Alper Ozinal 6-1, 6-0. In two previous trips to the state, he finished fourth. He'll attend Wofford next year and play tennis there.
``I'm kind of unhappy because this is the third time in the state singles. On the other hand I'm happy with the way I played and the way the team played,'' said Gibb. ``I thought we'd win as a team, but it came down that we played a lot better team.''
Branch was a solo act as Radford coach until she retired two years ago. Coaxed out of retirement this season, she said she'd coach only if Susan Cox was permitted to help. Cox is a former Timesland player from Pulaski County.
Together, these two had Radford in the Group A finals where they lost 6-3 to J.J. Kelly, which won its sixth consecutive title.
``Our salary was split down the middle. Five cents for her and five cents for me. That's 10 cents an hour,'' Branch joked.
``I've known Susan since she was 15. She'd come to the rec hall and play with us every day. She missed her calling by not becoming a teacher and a coach.''
Branch completed her 10th year of coaching and teams that she has tutored have a history of doing well in state tennis play, even when Radford played as a Group AA school.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Sarver, Gibb, Branch, Cox, Lawrence.by CNBGraphic: Chart: All-Timesland 1995-96 golf team.