THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603280147
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 145 lines
LAST YEAR, they were the team to beat. This year - at least in Hampton Roads - the Cox Falcons look like the team that can't be beat.
The defending district champions' five returning starters will be joined by two hugely talented transfers - doesn't this kind of thing always seem to happen at Cox? - to form what could be the region's most powerful team in years.
In most seasons, such a group would be a popular pick to win the Group AAA state title. But Mills Godwin, last year's ``team for the ages'' which won the state doubles, finished 1-2 in the state singles and took 170 of its 171 singles and doubles matches in team competition en route to the state crown, graduated just one player, and he'll be replaced by a transfer student who formerly played No. 1 at nearby Clover Hill.
Fortunately for Cox, Mills Godwin can't appear on the other side of the net before the state final. Until then, the Falcons will be heavy favorites every time they step on the court and virtual locks to collect their 10th district crown since 1984.
Tallwood, which came within a game of reaching the state team tournament last year, leads the race for the district's No. 2 seed at the Eastern Region tournament.
Elsewhere in the region, three-time defending Eastern Region champion Maury's streak of victories over regional opponents - now at 43 - should come to an end, but the Commodores will continue running roughshod through the Eastern District. Great Bridge rates a slight edge over Western Branch and Churchland in the Southeastern, and Lafayette is the team to beat in the Peninsula.
The Beach District at-a-glance:
Top player: Ryan Davidson, Cox. Top returning player: Ramel Bautista, Tallwood. Top newcomer: Davidson. Top freshman: Allen Zirkle, Bayside. Best name: Boston Underwood, Ocean Lakes. Top team: Cox. Most improved team: Bayside. Predicted order of finish: 1. Cox; 2. Tallwood; 3. Kempsville; 4. Kellam; 5. First Colonial; 6. Salem; 7. Bayside; 8. Princess Anne; 9. Green Run; 10. Ocean Lakes.
COX
Last year's record: 13-1, 9-1
Key players: Ryan Davidson, So.; Nathan Shanks, Jr.; Latane Meade, Jr.; Bobby Kalantar, Sr.; Chris Imrich, Sr.; Tom Lamoureux, Jr.
Outlook: Look out. The five returners from last season have scooted down a couple of spots to accommodate Davidson, a transfer from Charleston, S.C. who should finish the year as one of the top two 16s players in the Mid-Atlantic region, and Shanks, a West Potomac High transfer and a top-20 regionally in the 18s. No Beach team has ever won the team title and finished first and second in both the district A and B flight singles and doubles tournaments, but such a sweep is a realistic goal for this year's Falcons.
TALLWOOD
Last year's record: 9-2, 8-1
Key players: Ramel Bautista, Sr.; Josh Miranda, Jr.; Ryan Bautista, So.; Marvin Sagun, Jr.; Ed Adamos, Sr.; Joe Neely, Fr.
Outlook: With four returning starters from last year's district runner-up - and district tournament champions - the Lions could be the second-best team in the region. Flashy, diminutive (5-7, 125 pounds) Ramel Bautista, a district runner-up in singles and doubles a year ago, is the league's top returning player. ``Unfinished business'' could be the slogan for this year's Lions. Tallwood's No. 2 doubles team had a 5-2 third-set lead in the deciding region semifinal against Maury, but lost four straight games, then was disqualified for ball abuse.
KEMPSVILLE
Last year's record: 7-5, 4-5
Key players: Peter Matsushige, Sr.; Josh Barnes, So.; Paul Hamilton, Jr.; Brian McDonald, Jr.; Patrick Teague, Jr.
Outlook: The Chiefs figure to be battle-tested before they face their first opponent, as there are several players of comparable ability and the challenge matches for roster spots should be fierce. Depth is Kempsville's strength, and while knocking off Cox seems out of the question, the Chiefs could be in the hunt for No. 2.
KELLAM
Last year's record: 6-3, 6-3
Key players: Michael Meredith, Jr.; Tariq Louka, Jr.; Andy Sedaka, Sr.; Patrick Hughes, Sr.; Bret Russell, Fr.
Outlook: Players are battling for position behind Meredith, who has established himself as the top man. Sedaka, Louka and Hughes should highlight the supporting cast of a group which should finish in the league's first division and might even contend for a playoff berth.
BAYSIDE
Last year's record: 6-7, 3-5
Key players: Allen Zirkle, Fr.; Alex Burke, Sr.; Albert Bahngit, Jr.; Arturo Gonzalez, Sr.; Shawn Rivera, Sr.; Nathan Sanford, Jr.
Outlook: A winning record should be attainable for the Marlins, who for the first time in years seem to have a potent blend of experience and talent. Five starters return, but freshman Zirkle will lead them. As many as nine players are battling for the other five starting spots, so the Marlins should be match-tough before the season even begins.
SALEM
Last year's record: 4-5, 4-5
Key players: Nick Abad, Sr.; Ren Castro, Sr.; Scott Douglas, So.; Carlos Morillo, Sr.; JoJo Valdez, Sr.; David Hummel, Sr.
Outlook: The Sun Devils return eight players who saw action last year, but the top two, both district tournament semifinalists, have moved on. New coach Rosie O'Neill says six newcomers have potential, indicating Salem should have no shortage of depth. What remains to be seen is whether there's a bonafide No. 1 or No. 2 player in the bunch.
PRINCESS ANNE
Last year's record: 3-6, 3-6
Key players: Brett Carter, Jr.; Jeff Weisman, Sr.; Doug Plante, Sr.; Andy Miller, Sr.; Greg Rock, So.; Karl Kingery, Sr.
Outlook: The Stallions have eight players who saw action last year. Carter, who missed most of his sophomore season with injuries, will claim the No. 1 spot, and Weisman, who took a year off to beef up his grades, will play No. 2. The better teams traditionally haven't worried too much about the Cavaliers, but this season, Princess Anne may have enough talent to make that attitude backfire.
FIRST COLONIAL
Last year's record: 6-3, 6-3
Key players: Pete Litton, Sr.; Ryan Hines, Jr.; Mike Schiller, Sr.; Jeff Fleischman, So; Martin Tsai, So.
Outlook: The Patriots have been able to count on getting a point from No. 1 singles the past three years, but three-time district champ George Kannarkat, who plans to attend medical school, has decided to forego is senior season to concentrate on schoolwork. Without a star at the top of the order, the Patriots will need to concentrate on locking down wins at the Nos. 4-6 positions.
GREEN RUN
Last year's record: 3-8, 2-7
Key players: Chad Naujoks, Jr.; Ferdinand Abuel, Sr.; Chris Beiter, So.; Kenny Deaton, So.; Chris Marcia, Jr.; Chris Bellamy, Sr.
Outlook: The Stallions graduated their top three players from a year ago, so it could be a long climb uphill for second-year coach Alton Hill. Naujoks, Abuel and Beiter return to provide experience.
OCEAN LAKES
Last year's record: 1-11, 0-9
Key players: Jason Mueller, Sr.; Mike Tallmadge, So.; Aaron Mueller, Sr.; Ray Tieskotter, Sr.; Boston Underwood, Fr.; Chris Yuskiw, Jr.
Outlook: An off-season dedicated to consistency and stroke production by the Dolphins' five returners all but guarantees improvement on the team's dismal debut season. Jason Mueller (expected to play No. 1) and Tallmadge (No. 2) figure to be among the district's most improved players. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Cox High's Nathan Shanks, a junior, is a transfer from West Potomac
High and is ranked among the top 20 regionally in the 18-and-under
division.
by CNB