THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995 TAG: 9505100179
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH and BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
ONCE AGAIN, Great Bridge and Western Branch proved dominant in Southeastern District boys' tennis competition, sweeping all six available slots in the upcoming Eastern Region tournament in play this past week at Oscar Smith High School.
The top two teams, along with the winners and runners-up in the singles and doubles events, advanced to region tournament competition.
For the second time in three years, Great Bridge claimed the team title, edging the Bruins 24-22. Three of the Wildcats' six players reached the quarterfinals.
Western Branch came out on top individually, taking the singles and doubles titles.
No one left more of an impression on the district tournament than Bruins senior Frankie Graves. A two-time district champ, Graves dropped only one game on his way to the semifinals, where he fought off Great Bridge's Steve Breeden, 6-4, 6-3, to move into the finals.
On the other half of the draw, Wildcats' sophomore David Bristow showed why he is the heir apparent to Graves with a workmanlike effort in the semifinals against Churchland's Francesco Michelon, 6-2, 6-0.
Experience met youth in the singles final, and Graves easily earned his third straight district championship with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Bristow, who played with a strained lower back.
``I could tell it was bothering him a little. I noticed he didn't even run down some shots I put in the corner,'' said Graves, who will attend the Naval Academy this fall.
Bristow, however, gave all the credit to Graves.
``Frankie was hitting really well . . . he raised his level,'' he said.
Graves paired with teammate Kurt Gilchrist to take the doubles title with a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Bristow and Breeden. It was the second straight year as runners-up for the pair from Great Bridge, who lost to Graves and partner Kwang Kim last season.
The Eastern Region tournament begins Monday with team competition. Western Branch will travel to Cox, while district champs Great Bridge will host Tallwood. The finals are May 19 at the Owls Creek Municipal Tennis Center in Virginia Beach.
Singles competition begins at Owls Creek on May 22. Graves will face the Peninsula District runner-up, while Bristow takes on the Peninsula No. 2. The final is May 23.
Doubles play also runs on May 22 and 23. Graves and Gilchrist will play the Eastern District runner-up, while Breeden and Bristow take on the Eastern Region champs.
For the first time, the Southeastern District boys' tennis coaches have picked an all-district team. The girls coaches have been selecting one for several years.
The boys team is headed by Western Branch's Frankie Graves, who won his third consecutive district singles crown last week.
The eight-player all-district squad was an all-senior group except for Great Bridge sophomore David Bristow.
Also chosen were Great Bridge's Steve Breeden and Mark Cockrell, Churchland's Francesco Michelson and Owen Seeley, Deep Creek's Neil Applewhite and Oscar Smith's Allan Prescott.
The second team had three seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.
Western Branch and Indian River placed two. Single players were chosen from Deep Creek, Norcom, Wilson and Churchland. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Kurt Gilchrist, a senior at Western Branch, made second team for
All-Southeastern Boys Tennis.
ALL-SOUTHERN BOYS TENNIS TEAMS
[For a copy of the roster, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB