By Chuck Landis, Marion Chronicle-Tribune
8/21/2008
A once proud Marion boys’ tennis program appears ready to regain some of its former swagger.
The Giants season-opening 5-0 victory Tuesday at Jay County was significant for a couple important reasons. Jay County won the sectional championship at Marion the past three years, and the Patriots had a pair of 3-2 victories over the Giants last year.
“We have got some expectations,” Marion coach Doug Porter said before the first meet. “We’re still young, but we gained a lot of experience from last year.”
The addition of freshman Brandon Dubuque has allowed Porter to move down Alex Hornett to the No. 2 singles position and Nick Fauser to No. 3 singles. The Giants’ singles players easily won their matches Tuesday, losing a combined three games.
Although the Giants cleared one hurdle, they have another with Grant County rival Mississinewa, which handed them a 5-0 loss last year. Indians No. 1 singles player Nathaniel Fleming has moved on to NCAA Division I St. Francis (Pa.), but five of seven varsity players return.
Mississinewa is coming off an 11-4 season and Central Indiana Conference title, and sixth-year coach Bruce Fleming is considering several lineup options. Fleming could take Cody Everhart, who was 19-1 at No. 2 singles, and move him up to replace his son. Or he could play on the No. 1 doubles team.
“Cody is such a strong doubles player, but he’s such a strong player overall,” Fleming said of Everhart, who was at No. 1 singles Tuesday in the Indians’ season opener.
Adam Drake was at No. 3 singles last year but played well enough in summer tournaments to defeat Hornett and the No. 1 player for Kokomo’s North Central Conference champions. Fleming figures to tinker around with the lineup early in the season before making a final decision.
Madison-Grant has three varsity letterwinners back from a 5-10 team, but second-year coach Tony Pitt isn’t downcast about the Argylls’ prospects. Pitt likes the potential of singles players Tyler Clevenger and Isaac Gough. Ian Barkdull, last year’s No. 1 singles player, will move to No. 1 doubles and help solidify that team.
“We have a nice balance between singles and doubles, with Clevenger and Gough leading the way,” Pitt said. “We should be a lot stronger at those spots than we have been the last two or three years.”
Even before Tuesday’s meet, Marion was considered a program on the rise. Last year’s 7-9 record was its best since at least 1998 and included several 3-2 losses that Porter said could have gone either way.
“A lot of tennis is it’s a mental sport,” Porter said. “That’s the reason Jay County beat us and Mississinewa in the sectional — they were just mentally tougher. We had a 1-12 record in tiebreakers, and it’s the experienced player who wins the tiebreakers.”
Dubuque comes to Marion already a tested player from numerous successes in area and state junior tournaments. Hornett had played No. 1 singles the past two years, and Porter believes move to No. 2 will work to Hornett’s advantage.
Zach Lyons and Andrew Schoer are experienced doubles players but play at No. 1 for the first time. Porter said each has different attributes to make them successful.
The Indians should have a good singles lineup — with or without Everhart. Brandon Cragun likely will fill a singles spot, and Adam Schuler could make the move up from doubles.
Fleming likely will keep Kenny Cassidy and Ryne Cunningham in doubles for a second straight year, and four seniors from the JV are vying for one open spot.
“We have a lot of different options,” Fleming said. “It’s hard to tell you much right now.”
Madison-Grant is looking to fill its lineup with newcomers Eric Solms, Kyle Davis, Tyler Kropuenske and Zach Castillo.
“We have been improving with each practice, but we have a ways to go before we are where I’d like us to be,” Pitt said.
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