Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050107
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That happened to the Salem boys' tennis team last fall after school opened. Dave Petersen, whose team had survived to win 5-4 over Blacksburg in the semifinals before winning the Group AA state tournament, took a job as assistant principal of that school.
At least he wouldn't coach Blacksburg, which has become Salem's biggest tennis rival. To replace Petersen, Salem hired Mike Gibson, who had coached William Byrd, a Blue Ridge District rival.
"Dave called me and told me he was going to Blacksburg as an administrator. I didn't know if the [Roanoke] county would let me out of my contract," said Gibson, who like Petersen is an art teacher and would make an easy replacement at Salem.
"They asked me why I wanted to make the move. I told them it was the facilitative art department that Salem has plus the tennis courts are right next to the school. At Byrd, we always had to go to Stonebridge Park [for tennis]."
Under Petersen, Salem had been a Group AA state tennis power, winning the state last year and finishing second two years ago. Gibson inherited a team that lost nine seniors and isn't expected to do that well this spring.
Don't worry about the Spartans, though. They scalded a veteran Blacksburg team 6-3 in the first meeting between the two schools. In the second match, Blacksburg gained revenge with an 8-1 triumph.
If there's a third meeting, it'll come in the finals of the Group AA state tournament next month at Poquoson. That's if both teams win their regions and then survive a first-round team match in the state tournament.
Blacksburg's path to the state is not that rough. The Indians are heavy favorites in Region IV. Salem must get by Brookville in Region III, but the regional tournament is on the Spartans' court.
"Let me tell you," said Petersen, "Salem is tough to beat at Salem."
That's because the Spartans are a baseline team and the courts at Salem are slow. This is ideal for the Spartans' game. Indeed, Salem's victory over Blacksburg came at home.
"In all the years we played Blacksburg, they [the Indians] only won once at Salem. I think that shows you how tough Salem is on its courts," said Petersen.
As assistant principal at Blacksburg, Petersen saw the two Salem-Blacksburg encounters with a mixed heart. "Everyone assumed Blacksburg would win that first match with everything they have returning. Salem was very, very patient that day and Blacksburg was impatient," said Petersen.
"In the second match, Blacksburg was far more ready to play. They weren't joking around."
So is there pressure on Gibson? "I haven't felt any pressure . . . I've always disciplined myself to do the best I can. I won't feel pressure unless we go to the state tournament," said Gibson.
Salem's top two returning players from last year are senior Kevin Dalal at No. 1 and junior Jeff Henley at No. 2. They've split matches this year in challenges and Gibson was going to continue to let them play challenges for the right to be No. 1.
Henley figured it would do the two no good to continue playing challenge matches, so he agreed to remain No. 2 in singles behind Dalal. "He's a senior, give him the honor. We've beaten each other, but it's that part of the season where we need to concentrate on the team instead of challenges," said Henley.
Will Wimmer is at No. 3, John Valera plays fourth spot, Peter Moran is No. 5 and, surprise of surprises, Mark Byington is No. 6. Byington, a senior who was Timesland boys' basketball player of the year and is headed to North Carolina-Wilmington in that sport, gave up AAU competition this year to play tennis.
Dalal says Salem is loose because no one expects the team to be as strong as last year with the player losses and under a new coach. Petersen, according to the senior, was a driver, a coach who knew his sport as well as anyone in Timesland.
"Petersen had been here 15-16 years. He had a great system. He was a great coach," said Dalal. "Coach Gibson is totally different. He emphasizes match play instead of drilling and running."
Henley also believed Petersen, as he was called by his team, was a great coach. "I'd get calls at10 o'clock at night from Petersen about tennis. Coach Gibson is making it more relaxed. Petersen ended it [with a state championship] the way he wanted to."
"I find it [coaching] relaxing," said Gibson. "I'll do the best I can with the lineup I have and get the kids to believe in themselves.
"It's possible to repeat as the state champion. Right now I feel very good about it, but you never know what's in the other part of the state."
by CNB