International flair

Joe Everson Correspondent\ Correspondent Mike Boyle contributed to

High school tennis on the North Side will have an international look this spring, with four teams featuring European exchange students as their No. 1 or 2 singles players.

Three of them are from Germany: Riverside's Yannick Schmeyers, North Central's Isabelle Kiry and Mt. Spokane's Friederike Brodach. They're all playing at No. 1 for their schools, while Dasha Burko (Ukraine) at Shadle Park is a No. 2. At Lakeside, German Sebastian Friessnegg and Maria Diaf from Venezuela are playing doubles on the boys' and girls' team, respectively.

There are a handful of all-league players returning from last year, including Lakeside senior Paige Townsend, the most valuable player in the Great Northern League in 2003.

Girls

North Central

The Indians return all but one player, and should be strong because of their experience, said coach Shannon Bontrager. All four of their singles players are seniors, with Candi Carter, Erica Martin and Erin Lockhert backing up Kiry. Lockhert, NC's No. 1 last year, is still recovering from an illness.

NC's top two doubles teams are also seniors - the team of Abby Knight and Donna McIntyre, last year's top duo and Angie Fielder and Katy White. Senior Serena Hart is teamed with freshman Devin Lockhert.

Rogers

The Pirates have lost a couple of close early matches, but coach Barb Farnsworth sees bright things on the horizon: "I see improvement daily. We have more girls playing out of season now, so the level of our experience should continue to get better every year."

Sophomore Kayla Clarke is Rogers' top singles player and returning all-Greater Spokane League. Junior Elizabeth Williamson and seniors Brytney Allen and Mai Moua complete the singles lineup. The doubles teams include juniors Brittany Kelso and Christina Clair, senior Geri Gaddy and junior Amanda Kyle, and juniors Camille Wall and Sara Norman. Everyone except Moua is a returner.

Mead

Senior Leah Vaughn, who's been to the state 4A tournament two straight years in doubles, is coach Sandy Ivers' top singles player and returning all-GSL. The Panthers have six seniors, including four varsity veterans.

Besides Vaughn, the singles lineup includes seniors Desarea Chessar and Marie-Louise Stegen and junior Ashlee McCaslin. In doubles, seniors Angie Dodd and Christina Layman are No. 1, sophomores Cory Miller and Renee Fagras are No. 2 and senior Hela Kelsch and sophomore Cory Miller are No. 3.

Shadle Park

"Our singles players are more experienced and stronger than our doubles," said first-year coach Jill Huibregtse. "Many of our doubles kids have only played for a year or so."

Sophomore Nicole Seevall is the Highlanders' No. 1 singles player, joined by Burko and seniors Theresa Burchell and Millissa Banks. There are two all-sophomore doubles teams: Kim Thompson with Alisyn Franetich and Candra Emch with Whitney Mason. The third doubles squad is junior Mallory Braun and sophomore Robin Van Gundy.

Mt. Spokane

Coach Mary Wallace is enthusiastic about the makeup of her squad: "We lost lots of experienced kids from last year, but this is the best bunch of girls we've had in a long time. We're learning, enjoying and having great fun."

Behind Brodach in singles are juniors Kirsten Obeso and Ashley Thomas and sophomore Kelsey Cline. Four-year veterans Samantha Doolittle and Shannon McKee are the top Wildcat doubles team, having switched from singles for their senior season. Senior Kim Blashill will team with freshman Stephanie Hopkins, and junior Jessica Propp and senior Kate Sawatzki will play at No. 3.

Gonzaga Prep

The Bullpups will carry a 62 match winning streak into this season, having won the last seven league titles.

"It's a really long streak that we have," said head coach Donna Lenseigne, who has been at the helm the entire time. "I was telling some of the girls they were 8 or 9 years old the last time Gonzaga Prep lost."

The Bullpups will have five players back from the team that won both districts and regionals to advance to state. Senior Vanessa Anderson is back to lead Gonzaga Prep at No. 1 singles. Seniors Amanda Wong and Jamie Randall will also play singles, while Mandy Breckenridge and junior MacKenzie MacLean will also vie for singles spots. In doubles, juniors Anna Baldasty and Mary Catherine Bradley return for G-Prep. Seniors Megan Arpin and Christina Higgins, juniors Lindsey Egan and Kati John, and freshman Sarah Bechtolt and sophomore Amy Emsay will compete for the other two doubles spots. The Bullpups also hope to get back senior Sara VanGemert, who is recovering from a knee injury.

Deer Park

The Stags have a number of returners, but they're still young, said coach Ken Ryan. "We lost seven girls, but our returning kids are good and will be pushed by the freshmen. We should hit our peak near the end of the season."

The singles lineup includes three sophomores, Shelli Mitchell, Courtney Buffington and Sarah Kendall. Junior Laura Bray is at No. 2. There are two all-frosh doubles squads, Bailey Selle-Natalie Baydo and Tiffany White-Naomi Willis, while sophomore Kayla Lowther teams with DP's only senior, Lette Lawson.

Riverside

Senior Danielle Copeland was all-league and will head the Rams' singles lineup. Seniors Lisa Masengale and Caitlin Molony and junior Ryanne Skinner will back her up, while the No. 1 doubles team will be juniors Meghan Huessloen and Sarra Arras.

"After that," said new coach Brad Adams, "it's up for grabs. We've got a good core of experienced kids at the top of the lineup, and we've competed well in round robins with bigger schools."

Lakeside

Townsend was unbeaten in Great Northern League play last season and returns at the No. 1 singles spot. She'll be followed by juniors Joanna Otto and Arielle Tolliver and senior Karli Tikker. Juniors Stefanie Richards and Rachel West will team up for doubles, along with freshman Rebecca Ramshaw and Diaf, and sophomore Kitty Maus and freshman Rachel Cutler. The Eagles lost five seniors, but coach Rosemary Clocherty feels they have younger players who can step up to the level of GNL competition. "It make take a while," she said, "but we have some strong new players and some freshmen with potential."

Boys

Mt. Spokane

All-leaguer Logan Napolsky, who competed in the 4A regionals last season, leads the Wildcats' singles lineup. Mt. Spokane lost four seniors, but coach Marshall Mah feels that the Cats have a chance to repeat 2003's GSL championship. Mt. Spokane was unbeaten in league and has the largest turnout in the school's seven-year history.

After Napolsky in singles come senior Curt Stein and sophomores Jon Assmus and Calvin McManus. Brothers Mike and Matt Dorr are one doubles squad, along with seniors Tyler Roffler and Garrett Fowles, and junior Edwin Miller and senior John Willard.

Mead

"We're pretty new," said coach Bill Wagstaff, "and we may have some uphill battles. But we'll learn from our setbacks and come out stronger next time. The history of our program is that we improve as the season progresses."

Seniors Kyle Brown, Joe Owens and Eric Johnson and junior Matt Foos are the Panthers' top singles players. There are two all-senior doubles teams, Jacob Milliken-Blake Rogers and Christian Monahan-Jon Coyne. Travis Burns and Barry Weber make up a junior squad. The Panthers have five varsity returners.

Rogers

Coach Brett Dodd has three seniors who have been in the program for four years: Matt Gower, Chet Parker and Jeremy Deerheim are his top singles players. No. 4 is sophomore Josh Hicks, part of the Pirates' No. 1 doubles team last year. Doubles squads include senior Denis Yunin and junior Tim Langan, and juniors Josh Dueball and Don Vu.

"We have eight returning players," said Dodd, "and 10 kids who are new to the program. Matt, Chet and Jeremy are solid players whom I expect to show the others the level of play that is possible for those who stay with the sport."

Shadle Park

Senior Brian Heimbecker, Shadle's No. 1 singles player, was all- GSL and advanced to the state 4A tournament last spring. The rest of the Highlander singles lineup is senior Hans Liezen and two freshmen, Kramer Ortman and Cory Heimbecker. Seniors Eric Malmquist and J.C. Thomas make up one doubles team, junior Ben Hart and Shane Drennon the second and freshman Stephan Gant and senior Joey Crane the No. 3 squad.

Including their nonleague matches, the Highlanders got off to a 5- 2 start, and coach Ray Picicci is excited about the mix of youth and experience on his team: "We are fortunate to have so many fantastic young athletes returning, as well as some great new talent."

North Central

The Indians are young and in the building process, said coach Cheryl Bixby. Their top singles player is freshman Seth Stradling, and they'll have only three seniors in the lineup - singles players Joe Stussi, Josh Urbaniak and Josh Reil.

Juniors Kevin Yochum and Jon Klapp will team up in doubles. The rest of NC's lineup, except for junior Josh Myers at No. 2 doubles, is made up of sophomores. Ryan Guhlke will be at No. 3 singles, Dario Re will team with Myers, and Damal Neil and Andrew Johnson make up the No. 3 doubles team.

Gonzaga Prep

Despite losing Charles Adams, one of the top singles players in the state, to graduation, Gonzaga Prep will be a GSL contender this season, as 10 players return from a team that finished at 5-5 in league matches last year.

"He had such an impact on them last year," said head coach Steve Schmutz. "Just hitting with them in practice and working with them, their game has improved because of him."

Fourth year player, senior Dave Amaro, will take over for Adams at No. 1 singles. Seniors Chris Poppy and Danny Christiansen will play at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, while freshman Matt Schaff will take over at No. 4. Seniors Warren Presley and Brad Guthrie will play No. 1 doubles, while fellow seniors Ryan Swartz and Michael Glockling will be at No. 2. Senior Mike Esmay and freshman Mark Poppy, will hold down No. 3 doubles.

Lakeside

There are plenty of Tellezes in the Eagles' program: coach Mark and brothers Kevin, at No. 1 singles, and Nick, at No. 2. Kevin, a junior, was all-league last year despite appendix surgery during the spring, and Nick is a freshman. Junior Brandon Thompson and senior Brandon Seaman complete the singles lineup.

In doubles, juniors Victor Hitches and Joe Theisen, and seniors Cody Edwards and Luke Hutyler make up the top two teams. Freshman Mitchell White and Shaun Greer will compete with freshman Brandon Crume and Friessnegg for the No. 3 spot.

Riverside

The Rams have a number of juniors and seniors, but coach Chris Holquist says most of them haven't had much competitive experience. "Everyone expects us to be down this year," he said, "but I think we might surprise some people."

After Schmeyers, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound veteran of the German club system, come senior Casey Davis and juniors Ian Hallanius and Danny Atherton in singles. Junior Dan Bradley and freshman Max McCutcheon are the first doubles team, followed by the freshman squad of Shane Lipstein and Nick Deflorio, and sophomore Josh Wooley with junior Orion Hoffman.

Deer Park

Coach Mark Dupuis' top four players are all returners - senior Josh Whitney and juniors Jake Landrus, C.J. Gatts and Mark Anderson. Junior T.J. Quackenbush, sophomore Curtis Hayward and freshman Cameron Jessup complete the squad.

"We'll mix and match at singles and doubles," said Dupuis. "It'll be hard to win matches because we'll have forfeits. But Landrus and Whitney will be a good doubles team come time for district, and C.J. Gatts is a real good player."

Boys and Girls

St. George's

The Dragons won last year's boys district title and finished second in the girls districts with just 3 players on each team. This season, St. George's has more than tripled that turnout with 11 girls and 10 boys on teams that should be at the top of the Northeast A/B League this season.

St. George's will once again by led by senior Ben Hough, who has won the A/B state singles titles the last two years.

"Ben adds a new dimension," said head coach Jeff Urie. "At the district and state level, all I hear from the other coaches is `What are we going to do about Ben? What about Ben?' He changes the whole complexion. He's probably going to be in the top five in the boys 18 in the Pacific Northwest."

The rest of the Dragon lineup will be solid again as well. Senior Roby Gallotti will be back at No. 2 singles, while sophomore Matthew Jackson and junior Matthew Kerschen will man the doubles. For the girls, junior Caitie Storm returns after winning districts in singles and advancing to state last year. Senior Jennie Ross is back at No. 2 singles, and will alternate with sophomore Katherine Kerschen between singles and doubles. Junior Emily Finkel will join Ross or Kerschen on the doubles team.

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