Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990 TAG: 9004030394
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JEFF MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Last year McGuigan's netters went 13-2, but lost in the Group AA Region IV final to Marion. Now the Blacksburg coach returns five of his top six players from last year and has four players capable of being the Hokies' No. 1 seed.
"We certainly feel very confident," McGuigan said. "We have a good solid lineup and with all those players back, you have to like our chances."
Other New River District coaches realize what a powerhouse squad Blacksburg is.
"No one should touch Blacksburg," Radford coach Larry Mannon said. "It shouldn't even be close."
But McGuigan also knows if Blacksburg is going to have a big year, this is the time to do it. Five seniors and an exchange student who won't be back next year make up the first six spots.
Yong Oh returns at No. 1, but he is being pushed by a trio of players. Dave Holton, the second seed, No. 3 James Langeback and German exchange student Christian Ulrich, who will begin at No. 4, all have shots at the top spots before the district tournament. Mike Ficenec will play the fifth spot and junior Chris Gordon will be sixth-seeded.
\ RADFORD: The Bobcats will be a longshot to challenge for the district title, but they should be favored to finish second.
Mannon returns three of his top four players from last year's team. John David Semones has been promoted from No. 4 to first, but he could get a serious challenge from Sean Phillips. Phillips was the second seed last year, but developed back trouble that prevented him from playing football or basketball. He received his medical clearance just a couple of weeks ago and is working his way into shape. Noah Spalding is returning as the third seed.
The Bobcats lost two early -season matches to Glenvar and Graham. Mannon figures a healthy Phillips will strengthen his squad considerably.
"We did well in both losses, but by the time we got to the doubles, I think Sean was really tired because of his lack of playing time," Monnon said. "As things go on, I think we'll be fine."
\ CHRISTIANSBURG: First-year coach Carter Turner will send a very young squad to the courts this year.
The Demons return only four players from last year's team, but the ones that do return are key figures. Incumbent top seed Eric Legg is the most prominent returnee. Another sophomore, Scott Habeeb, is moving up from five to two. Freshman Kemp Cunningham will play the third spot.
Turner has high hopes.
"We know Blacksburg is really tough and Radford isn't bad either, but I think we should at least finish in the top three," Turner said.
\ GILES: Spartans' coach C.J. Thomas has to feel good about his team. He returns his top two players from last season and his No. 4 player, but it is the bottom three spots that have him worried.
"You need to be strong at four, five and six to win," Thomas said. "You also need to be strong in doubles."
The players Thomas will count on are led by Doug Wickline. Wickline, a senior, returns at the No. 1 spot as does another senior, Todd Kanode, at the second spot. Senior Tim Dunford will play three, moving up a notch from last year.
Giles alson is feeling the loss of J.J. Fleeman. Fleeman would have been the third seed or possibly higher, according to Thomas. But Fleeman moved to district rival Carroll County where he is playing the No. 1 spot.
\ AUBURN: Eagles coach Steve Huppert almost needed name tags to identify his team members at the beginning of the year.
"Our team is almost completely new," Huppert said. "Between graduation, transfers and people quitting we have all new faces."
The only old face for Auburn will be sophomore Nathan Jones. He played No. 4 last year and has been bumped all the way to No. 1. The other top five players are all newcomers to their spots.
"I just hope we can keep some guys around for a few years," Huppert said. "Then we could be pretty good."
\ NARROWS: Dianne Lowery has six players returning from last year's team. Unfortunately for the Green Wave's first-year coach, only two of them played in the top six.
Last year's second seed, Matt Fleeman, will lead the charge from the No. 1 spot and his brother Mark will play the second spot. With the exception of Matt Fleeman, the team is mostly juniors and the lack of match experience doesn't bother Lowery.
"I think we have as good a chance as anyone [at winning the Mountain Empire District]," Lowery said. "We have about eight players who are very evenly balanced. There isn't an easy spot on our team."
\ FLOYD COUNTY: The Buffaloes are the defending Mountain Empire District champs but a chance at repeating seems slim. Only two players who saw action last year return to this year's team. Huff led the team last year and is considered one of the better players ever in the county. He is now playing at Virginia Tech.
The new top seed is Donnie Sutphin. He was the third seed last year. Justin Lewis is the probable at No. 2 and Reeve Martin has control of the third spot.
\ PULASKI COUNTY: Coach Ron Kanipe and his Cougars have high hopes for this season.
He returns three of his top four players including top seed Brian Hill and Kanipe is encouraged that his squad can challenge for the Roanoke Valley District title.
"Between us, Patrick Henry and Cave Spring I think it could be really close for first place," Kanipe said. "PH has won the last two district titles, but Cave Spring is probably a little tougher this year. But we are just as capable as either one of them at winning."
Kanipe was encouraged by the play of his team in some early season matches. Pulaski County lost to the Knights 6-2, but that was on a very cold, windy day that Kanite says didn't give a true indication of his team's abilities. The Cougars defeated the Patriots 5-4 later on.
"The key to our team will be the strength of our dubles," Kanipe said. "Hill can play with anyone, but our doubles are the best. We were down 4-2 to PH heading into the doubles and swept all three for the win."
Senior Ryan Boyd will hold down the second slot and junior Hunter Eley will play three.
\ SHAWSVILLE: The big losers in high school tennis were the Shawnees who were unable to field a team due to lack of interest.
by CNB