THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504070165
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
TIRED OF SEEING Western Branch and Great Bridge dominate the Southeastern District boys tennis scene?
Then this season could be downright exhausting.
Either the Bruins or the Wildcats have won the past eight league titles. Western Branch has generally been the more formidable of the two, as the Bruins have won seven titles since 1986. Last season, the Bruins marched all the way to the Group AAA state quarterfinals.
This year, it looks like it will be the Wildcats' turn. Graduation losses have depleted the Bruins, while Great Bridge returns the nucleus of a group that finished a close second to Western Branch.
The combination of the Wildcats' strength and weak campaigns expected from perennial powers like Maury and First Colonial should give Great Bridge a chance to capture the Southeastern District's first Eastern Region title since Western Branch did it in 1987.
Elsewhere in the district, Churchland - the last team besides Western Branch or Great Bridge to win a league title and a regional qualifier two years ago - should be competitive, and improved squads at Oscar Smith and Deep Creek also could make some noise.
Team-by-team capsules of the Southeastern District teams:
GREAT BRIDGE
Key players: David Bristow, Steve Breeden, Mark Cockrell, Paul Montero.
Outlook: A deep, talented team led by Bristow, a sophomore and a legitimate candidate for the district singles championship. The Wildcats put themselves in prime position Tuesday to pick up their second district title in three years by knocking off defending champion Western Branch. Churchland is probably the only team that could upset the Wildcats' run to a title.
WESTERN BRANCH
Key players: Frankie Graves, Brian Schellhammer, Kurt Gilchrist, Skip Williams, Ted Lee.
Outlook: The Bruins have dominated this league in recent years, but the loss of several top-six players from last year's state qualifier could mean there's room at the top. Coach Mike Donovan is hoping players other than two-time district champion Graves will step up, and they still might. But it may be too late. Tuesday, the Bruins dropped a 5-1 decision to Great Bridge. Since teams play each other only once, Western Branch may not be able to make up for that loss.
CHURCHLAND
Key players: Fransesco Michelon, Owen Seely, Nathan Peszko, Brandon Cuffee.
Outlook: The addition of Michelon to the No. 1 slot makes an already strong Trucker team a bonafide threat for one of the league's two regional slots. The key match will be Thursday, when Western Branch visits the Truckers. The winner will likely join Great Bridge in the regional tournament.
DEEP CREEK
Key players: Neil Applewhite, Mike Holley, Chris Fox, Josh Asble, Ryan Gettier, Jordon Lubag, Ricky Beachum, Pablo Gorena.
Outlook: Coach Anne Pitt will take her deepest team into action. Number one player Applewhite will hold his own against anyone in the district. He already owns a two-tiebreaker victory over Norcom's tough Michael Manning. In defeating the Greyhounds Tuesday, the Hornets have already matched their victory total from a year ago.
OSCAR SMITH
Key players: Alan Prescott, Sam Tran, John Close, Thomas Calhoun, Damion Outlaw, Jeremiah Davenport, Jason Young.
Outlook: Prescott's return to the No. 1 position (the senior didn't play last season) bumps everyone down a slot and strengthens the roster. Close, Calhoun, Outlaw, Davenport and Young are all returners. The group looked sharp in an 8-1 victory over Wilson Tuesday and should be competitive in the district.
INDIAN RIVER
Key players: Jeff Manning, Matt Bedois, Mark Bedois.
Outlook: The Braves lost several seniors, including their top two players, from a team that was a year or two away last year; so it appears the Braves are in for tough times. A pair of 8-1 losses to Deep Creek and Norview seem to bear this out.
WILSON
Key players: Paul Allman, Keith Allman, Andy Thompson, Jason Smith, Frank Thompson, Jimmy Smith.
Outlook: The two Allmans - fraternal twins - and Andy Thompson give the Presidents experience at the top three slots. Paul Allman was a No. 1 player two years ago; he sat out last season.
NORCOM
Key players: Michael Manning, Donald Ruemmler, Michael Ponds, Kuchumbi Hayden, Leonard Barrough, Timothy Forbes.
Outlook: The Greyhounds don't draw from tennis-rich areas like some of the league's other schools, but they will still put a decent team on the courts. The Greyhounds won't contend, but they will compete. Manning, a district singles semifinalist a year ago, should again challenge for individual honors. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by TAMARA VONINSKI
Paul Allman, left, and his twin brother, Keith, will fill the No. 1
and No. 3 positions on Wilson's team.
by CNB