Players position to hit the courts

Joe Everson Correspondent Correspondent Mike Boyle contributed to

Tennis courts are drying out and GSL boys and girls coaches are hoping they stay that way.

Many of the North Side girls' teams are undergoing a youth movement, while the boys' squads will have more experience on the court.

Mead boys

"We're gonna be solid again this year," says coach Bill Wagstaff, "but LC will be tough, and Central Valley, Mt. Spokane and Clarkston shouldn't be overlooked."

Seniors Tom Schneider and Colin Storm will man the No. 1 and 2 singles positions. Senior Paul Lack is pressing Storm. A senior combination, Robert Tingle and Brock Andrews, is Mead's top doubles pair, followed by junior Jeff Shoenning and senior Steve Schlangen.

Mead girls

The Panther girls are led by doubles team Leah Vaughn and Brittany Marshall. Vaughn went to state last year as a sophomore. Junior Dannon Bullert and sophomore Desarea Cheffar follow Vaughn-Marshall.

Top singles players are senior Rachel Piecuck, junior Angie Dodd and junior Abby Gardner.

"We lost lots of seniors last year," says coach Sandy Ivars. "Our No. 1 doubles team will be really good, but we're going to have to work hard to be successful this season."

Shadle Park boys

"We're strong this year," says coach Ray Pacicci, "and hopefully have a shot at winning the GSL. We have a veteran team, with several returners and lots of seniors."

His top three singles players are junior Brian Heimbecker and seniors Craig Kochel and Nate Kirchner. Top doubles teams are Dan Suess with Ben Clemens (both seniors) and senior Richard Seubert with junior Hans Liezen.

Shadle Park girls

"We are very young," says coach Larry Gallagher. "We have 28 girls out, and 22 have never played before. Right now, we're concentrating on teaching them to play the game."

Shadle's top three singles players, though, are all seniors: Linda Doyle, Betsy Friedlander and Mandy Noland. Juniors Teresa Burchell and Melissa Banks are the top doubles team for the Highlanders, followed by No. 2 freshman Nicole Seedall with sophomore Jenelle Smith.

Rogers boys

The Pirates return six varsity lettermen, all with two years experience. Top singles players are Matt Monnastes, Chet Parker, Jeremy Deerheim and Matt Gower, all juniors.

Junior Greg Souza will team with senior John Hicks for doubles play, as will juniors Tim Langan and David Hedge.

This is coach Brett Dodd's most experienced team, and he expects the Pirates to be much more competitive than in years past, especially in singles play.

Rogers girls

Coach Barb Farnsworth is excited about the Pirates' numbers: "We have 34 girls out and only one senior (No. 1 singles player Megan Clarke). This will be a learning year for us, but I am very excited for the future."

In singles, Megan's sister Kayla Clarke will play No. 2 followed by junior Maranda Harris.

Doubles teams include junior Emily Borders with sophomore Amanda Kyle and sophomore set Camille Wall and Sara Norman.

North Central boys

Coach Cheryl Bixby's top singles players are all seniors: John Lattin, Aaron Guest, Steve Gadingan and Dylan Kitzan. Doubles teams are still in challenge mode, but contenders include the senior duo of Justin Giammona and Chuck Zahara, and sophomore Josh Freeman with junior Josh Urbaniak.

"I hope we continue to improve as individuals and as a team," Bixby says. "I'm encouraging the guys to work hard, try to improve and have some fun on the court."

North Central girls

"We have a very young team this year," says first-year coach Shannon Bontrager, "but I'm excited about the energy our team has, and how they've been willing to work so hard."

Her top singles players are Erin Lockhert, Candi Carter, Erica Martin and Stacie Phipps.

Doubles teams include Abby Knight and Donna McIntyre, Angie Fielder and Katy White and Serena Hart and Sayuri Nagai.

Mt. Spokane boys

"This is the largest turnout I've ever had," says coach Marshall Mah. "We've got 40 kids out, including a bunch of freshmen who may letter." Mt. Spokane tied Mead for second place last season.

Right now, though, his top singles players are returners: sophomore Logan Napolsky, junior Curt Stein, senior Kyle Morton and sophomore Dirk Hiniges.

The Wildcats' top doubles team is senior pair Ryan Wahl and Todd Harmon, with juniors John Willard and Mike Dorr behind them.

Mt. Spokane girls

Mary Wallace, the first varsity girls' coach at Mt. Spokane, is back after several years away, and was greeted by a turnout of 47 girls. "We're in a rebuilding year," she says, "with only half our varsity back from last year. It's a great group, though, that's why I came out of retirement."

Sophomore Yana Samolovov and juniors Shannon McKee and Nichole Alberg are her top singles players, while senior Alexis Frank joins junior Sam Nutt in doubles, along with senior Karli Templin and junior Sam Doolittle.

Gonzaga Prep boys

Third-year coach Steve Schmutz welcomes back the top singles player in the league in senior Charles Adams. Adams finished second in the state last season, going unbeaten in the GSL and winning the district title.

"He plays tennis year round," said Schmutz. "He's played more tennis than anyone on our team combined, times 100."

The Bullpups welcome five other players from last year's team that went 5-5 in league. Juniors David Amaro, Chris Poppy and Mike Esmay will play No. 2, 3, and 4 singles, while fellow classmates Danny Christiansen, Michael Glocking and Ryan Swartz will play doubles. First year player senior Jacob Weber and sophomore Evan Bayne also will hit doubles for G-Prep.

Gonzaga Prep girls

The Bullpup girls are the closest thing to a dynasty in tennis, having won their last 56 matches in the GSL over the last six years. Prep has 10 players back from a team that finished second in state last season, but eighth-year coach Donna Lenseigne is hoping her team won't focus primarily on "the streak" this year.

"I really try to balance (the streak) with fun," she said.

Prep will be led by senior Carla Jones, who won the GSL and district titles last season before finishing fifth at state. Sophomore Kasie King will go at No. 2 singles, while teaming up with sister Erin King at No. 1 doubles, where they were unbeaten in league last year. Junior Vanessa Anderson will go at No. 3 singles, while Erin King will play No. 4 singles.

Sisters Kaili and MacKenzie MacLean, who were unbeaten last season, will lead the doubles pairings. Senior Callie Lambert and junior Jaime Randall will form one team, with junior Sara VanGremert and senior Erin Kells also partnered up. Senior Danie Buller also will see plenty of doubles action.

Two sidebars appeared with the story:

1. BOYS TENNIS ROSTERS

North Central

John Lattin, 12

Aaron Guest, 12

Steve Gadingan, 12

Dylan Kitzan, 12

Chuck Zahara, 12

Justin Giammona, 12

Josh Urbaniak, 11

Josh Freeman, 10

Josh Reil, 11

Kevin Yochum, 10

Ryan Guhlke, 9

Joe Stussi, 11

Shadle Park

Jake Clarke, 11

Ethan Clarke, 9

Ben Clemens, 12

Joey Crane, 11

Shane Drennon, 10

Anthony Fountain, 9

Nicholas Graham, 9

Kevin Grasso, 9

Ben Hart, 9

Nathan Kirchner, 12

Kraig Kochel, 12

Andrew Kurle

Ryan Larson

Hans Liezen

Eric Malmquist

Ben McGrath, 12

Brian Heimbecker

Richard Seubert, 12

Dan Suess, 12

John Thomas, 11

Mt. Spokane

Logan Napolsky, 10

Curt Stein, 11

Kyle Morton, 12

Dirk Hiniges, 10

Ryan Wahl, 12

Todd Harmon, 12

Mike Dorr, 11

John Willard, 11

Jon Assmus, 9

Adam Barrington, 12

Calvin McManus, 9

Matt Dorr, 9

Jack Willard, 11

Garrett Fowles, 11

Mead

Tom Schneider, 12

Colin Storm, 12

Kyle Brown, 11

Paul Lack, 12

Robert Tingle, 12

Brock Andrews, 12

Jeff Shoening, 11

Steve Schlangen, 12

Matt Foos, 10

Jacob Miliken, 11

Rogers

Matt Monnastes, 11

Chet Parker, 11

Jeremy Deerheim, 11

Matt Gower, 11

Greg Souza, 11

John Hicks, 12

David Hedge, 11

Tim Langan, 11

Josh Dueball, 10

James Giglio, 10

Dennis Yunin, 10

Ricky Ku, 12

Don Vu, 10

Jeff Hagglund, 10

Gonzaga Prep's roster was not available

2. GIRLS TENNIS ROSTERS

Rogers girls

Megan Clarke, 12

Kayla Clarke, 9

Maranda Harris, 11

Elizabeth Williamson, 10

Camille Wall, 10

Emily Borders, 11

Jillian Jay, 11

Sara Norman, 10

Brytney Allen, 11

Geri Gaddy, 11

Amanda Kyle, 10

Christina Clair, 10

Brittany Kelso, 10

Shadle Park girls

Linda Doyle, 12

Betsy Friedlander, 12

Mandy Noland, 12

Brittney Zosel, 12

Melissa Banks, 11

Theresa Burchell, 11

Janelle Smith, 10

Kim Thompson, 10

Ali Franetich, 10

Mallory Braun, 10

Natalie Ervin, 10

Nicole Seedall, 9

North Central girls

Erin Lockhert

Candi Carter

Erica Martin

Stacie Phipps

Abby Knight

Donna McIntyre

Angie Fielder

Katy White

Serena Hart

Sayuri Nagai

Mt. Spokane girls

Yana Samolovov, 10

Shannon McKee, 11

Nichole Alberg, 11

Sam Nutt, 11

Kyrstien Obeso, 10

Sam Doolittle, 11

Sasha Markova, 11

Kim Blashill, 11

Karli Templin, 12

Monica Skaug

Mead girls

Dannon Bullert, 12

Desarea Chessar, 11

Erin Davis, 11

Angie Dodd, 11

Abby Gardner, 11

Brittany Marshall, 12

Rachel Piecuch, 12

Kate Ridinger, 11

Calley Ryan, 11

Leah Vaughn, 11

Christina Layman, 11

Ashlee McCaslin, 10

Gonzaga Prep girls

Vanessa Anderson, 11

Dani Buller, 12

Carla Jones, 12

Erin Kells, 12

Erin King, 12

Kasie King, 10

Callie Lambert, 12

Kaili MacLean, 12

MacKenzie MacLean, 10

Jamie Randall, 11

Sara VanGemert, 11

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