THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409140123
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
GREAT BRIDGE IS again the clear favorite for the Southeastern District girls tennis championship, but it will be a disappointing season if that's the only title the Wildcats bring home.
A runaway district champion a year ago, Great Bridge returns its top two players - No. 1 Sara Guthrie and No. 2 Carey Stafford, the last two district singles champions - and a host of experienced, tournament players. It makes for a combination of talent and depth no other district team can match.
Also in Great Bridge's favor is the fact that the Southeastern District might be the weakest among the four in the Eastern Region.
But while not exactly looking past the teams in its own league, the Wildcats are making it clear that how successful this season becomes won't be determined until after the Eastern Region tournament.
``They definitely want to get out of the regionals and make it to state,'' Great Bridge co-coach Ginny Matish said.
The Wildcats even have new warm-up suits ``so we can look nice at the state tournament,'' Matish said.
Furthermore, there's a sense of urgency at Great Bridge to get something done this year. Four of the top six players are seniors, and many of the players on the roster are zoned to attend Hickory High School when it opens in 1996. Seniors that year will have the choice to remain at Great Bridge, but Matish said it's possible that in two years, the Wildcats will be building from scratch.
The Wildcats were eliminated by First Colonial in the regional semifinals and learned a valuable lesson along the way: don't rely on another team to clear the road to the state tournament. The Wildcats were expecting to meet Cox, a team they had already defeated, in the region.
But the Falcons upset a First Colonial team missing No. 1 player Stephanie Smith and won the Beach District crown. That dropped First Colonial into Great Bridge's half of the regional draw. With Smith, the Patriots were too strong for the Wildcats.
This year, Great Bridge can't worry about who's on the other teams and how the regional draw might shape up. Their focus needs to be on beating whoever lines up on the other side of the net.
This kind of attitude won't guarantee a regional title, though. The talented Smith has graduated, but First Colonial still nipped the Wildcats in a non-league match Monday.
While not quite in Great Bridge's class, Churchland should make a strong bid for second place and a regional tournament berth. The Truckers return the nucleus of last year's team, led by Mary Anne Gangoy and Ashley Seekford. The 1993 team also finished second in the league.
Perennial contender Western Branch and improving Wilson should also figure in the race for No. 2 in the league. The Presidents return Mandy Monell and Antoinette DeBrough, their top two players of a year ago.
As for the other district schools, the focus is less on contending for league honors and more toward introducing young players to the game and developing talent. The loss of Bonnie Maholchic to graduation will hurt Indian River's chances for contention, and Deep Creek and Oscar Smith are building around a core of improving returners. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Sara Guthrie returns as the No. 1 player for Great Bridge High
School.
Photo
Carey Stafford
Great Bridge High's No. 2 player
by CNB