文章基本信息

标题：Girls Tennis
作者：BRIAN COOK
期刊名称：Gazette, The (Colorado Springs)
出版年度：2002
卷号：Mar 10, 2002
出版社：Colorado Springs Gazette

Girls Tennis

BRIAN COOK

TOP FIVE TEAMS

1. Cheyenne Mountain: Everybody returns from last year's state third-place team with the addition of two outstanding freshmen, Christina Cutter and Kaley Wetzig. Cutter is a nationally ranked junior player and Wetzig could play No. 1 at almost any other school. Ann Scott (15-4) and Lindsay Jinkins (16-5, third in state), the top two singles players, return and Cutter will also play singles. Erica Krautheim, a three-time state champ including twice at No. 3 singles, moves to No. 1 doubles with Wetzig. The Indians are shooting for nothing less than a state championship. "We are just loaded guns," first-year coach Jason Kirkland said. "This is one of the strongest Cheyenne teams there's been in the last few years."

2. Air Academy: Whitney Flansburg (14-4) returns for her fourth year at No. 1. Leah Weston (20-1, third in state) returns at No. 2. Last year's team finished as 5A Metro League champions and eighth in state, and coach Jeanette Paddock is hoping for improvement this year.

3. Lewis-Palmer: The Rangers return six regional qualifiers from last year, including Teri Mayeda and Taylor Shields. The lineup boasts proven, experienced players down to the third doubles spot.

4. Coronado: Fourth-year coach Craig Rogers has this program turned around and improving every year. Last year's team finished 7- 4 - the "first winning record in years," he said. They won't overpower anybody but have the depth and experience to win the important matches.

5. Palmer: Katherine Muterstaugh (5-4) and Alex Bartz (9-2) will return to play the first and second singles positions, respectively. This will help a team that may have been affected by graduation.

ROUNDING IT OUT

Fountain Valley will have strong singles players, including No. 1 Vika Soshina, a state qualifier for now-closed St. Scholastica last year. Sarah Conant, injured last year, will play No. 2 and state- qualifier Allison Louie plays No. 3. . . . Colorado Springs Christian returns Brittany Anderson (9-1 at No. 2), its only returning singles player. . . . Harrison's Danielle Whalen (10-1) will be a highlight, but the rest of the team is inexperienced. . . . Pine Creek returns defending No. 1 singles champ Nicole Leimbach. . . . Widefield returns three singles players and three doubles teams from a team that finished second in regionals. . . . St. Mary's will field a team for the first time.

TOP FIVE RETURNING PLAYERS

1. Nicole Leimbach (Pine Creek): A gem to come out of Colorado Springs. She is ranked 20th in the nation for girls under-18 by the U.S. Tennis Association and second for girls under 16. Her freshman season ended with a 17-0 record and a state championship, and she lost only 10 games all season. Nobody in the city can touch her.

2. Ann Scott (Cheyenne Mountain): The best player from the best team in the area. She finished 15-4 last year and reached No. 1 quarterfinals in Class 4A.

3. Whitney Flansburg (Air Academy): This is her fourth year at No. 1 singles on a talented Kadet team. She finished 14-4 last year, two of her losses coming from nationally ranked opponents. She was The Gazette's player of the year in 2000.

4. Lindsay Jinkins (Cheyenne Mountain): Another high-caliber player on a deep Indian team. She placed third in No. 2 singles in Class 4A with a record of 16-5.

5. Leah Weston (Air Academy): Finished last season with a 20-1 match record at No. 2 singles and placed third in the state in Class 5A.

TOP NEWCOMER

Christina Cutter (Cheyenne Mountain): A freshman, nationally ranked among junior players. Her exceptional ability is complemented by maturity for a girl her age. She is likely to be the Indians' No. 3 singles player, although she could be higher, but she's one of the top players in the area.