THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603270147
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
IN BAY RIVERS District boys tennis, the power is on the Peninsula.
Defending Group AA state champion York has graduated state singles champ Carl Maymi, but the Falcons have so much depth they might not even miss him. Meanwhile, Poquoson will be led by Croatian import Nick Laca, perhaps the favorite to win this year's state singles title.
None of the other district teams match up with the league leaders, but each squad looks poised to exceed its performance of a year ago.
In the TCIS, Nansemond-Suffolk looms as the only legitimate challenger to powerhouse Norfolk Academy, which has won the conference crown in 10 of the last 11 years.
And at Southampton Academy, Marshall Rabil, undefeated last year as a eighth-grader en route to the Virginia Commonwealth title, is favored to repeat.
Capsules of area teams:
FRANKLIN
Coach: Michael Carter
Key players: Alex Standahl, Sr.; Matthew Baynard, Sr.; Justin Spengeman, Jr.; Brian Drake, So.; David Boyd, So.; Thomas Dale Ritter, Jr.
Outlook: Five of the top six players return from a team which went 4-3 in the district a year ago. Three of the returners - Standahl, Baynard and Dale - were over .500 in league singles. Still, while the Broncos should be a better team, the power of Poquoson and York could leave them hard-pressed to significantly improve on last season's record.
Bronco babble: Carter said he believes all of his players have grade-point averages over 3.5. ``We may not have the best team, but we are the smartest,'' the coach said.
LAKELAND
Coach: Randolph Holland
Key players: Scotty Holland, So.; Chris Gibson, Sr.; Matt Melkerson, Jr.; Brett Waldo, Jr.; Raymond Robb, Fr.; Brian Nield, Jr.
Outlook: The Cavaliers return all six starters from last season's 5-7 campaign and should be bolstered by the addition of freshmen Robb and Todd Byrum. Lakeland looks poised to make a major move up in the standings.
Cavalierly speaking: Number one player Holland posted an 11-3 record in singles last season.
NANSEMOND RIVER
Coach: Chavez Mabry
Key players: Arthur Bradshaw, Sr.; Brent Hobbs, Fr.; Andrew Craft, Fr.; Ryan Martin, Jr.
Outlook: An extremely young team, with Bradshaw the only returning starter. Newcomers Hobbs and Craft have talent, however, as does Martin, who tranferred in from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Assuming the players improve over the course of the season as Mabry expects, they should easily surpass last season's dismal 1-12 finish.
River rap: Bradshaw, who has offers from Coker and Wingate Colleges, could become the first Warrior to receive a tennis scholarship.
SOUTHAMPTON
Coach: Tyris Hill
Key players: Tony Dawson, Sr.; Hasheem Parker, So.; Aaron Woodard, Sr.; Travis Preau, So.; Brian Cox, So.; Daniel Cox, So.
Outlook: The Indians were winless last season, and Hill concedes they probably won't do much better this year. But with four sophomores in the starting lineup and an eighth-grader, Gilbert Turner, who might be better than anyone on the team, the future could be promising. For now, however, competing hard in every match and trying to improve will replace wins and losses as barometers of success at Southampton.
Tribe talk: Dawson has overcome two knee injuries to claim the No. 1 position. Turner, ineligible for varsity competition, will compete in exhibition matches.
SMITHFIELD
Information was not available.
NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK ACADEMY
Coach: Ray Carson
Last year's record: 17-3, 7-1
Key players: Craig Rice, Jr.; Davey Slack, Jr.; J.M. Nemish, So.; Lee Holland, Sr.; Ross Morgan, Sr.; Lee Cross, Jr.
Outlook: Rice, who won both the TCIS singles and Virginia 16s titles last year, will lead what figures to be one of the top three teams in South Hampton Roads. Four starters from last year's 17-3 team return, and in Holland, Morgan and Cross, Carson will have experienced upperclassmen manning the 4-6 positions.
Saints sermon: On April 18, the host Saints will get their lone head-to-head shot at perennial TCIS champion Norfolk Academy.
SOUTHAMPTON ACADEMY
Coach: Terry Bell
Key players: Marshall Rabil, Fr.; David Applewhite, Sr.; Christian Applewhite, Sr.; Thomas Upson, Jr.; Donnie Worrell, Jr.; Josh Francis, Fr.
Outlook: Team features four returning starters led by VCC champion Rabil, and second-singles runner-up David Applewhite. ``I expect them to be No. 1 in the VCC,'' said Bell, who expects St. Vincent De Paul out of Petersburg to provide the main competition. by CNB