TENNIS Poland's Somers-Ruehls achieve top in doubles play

Five Poland players are qualified for district action.
BOARDMAN -- Five members of Poland High's tennis team already qualified to compete at the district meet this week in Canton when they took the court Saturday at the Boardman Tennis Center.
In fact, all of the participants had locked up spots in the district tournament. At stake were the seeds for the district tournament.
Don Somers and Chad Ruehs of Poland knocked off No. 1-seeded Albert and Josh Cook of Ursuline, 6-0, 6-4 in the doubles final.
The second-seeded duo from Poland played with a level of intensity that Ursuline was unable to match.
"It was easily the best match we have played together," Ruehs said.
"This definitely was one of our goals this year, to win sectionals, but it's not over yet -- we still have work to do at districts," added Somers.
Singles experience
Coach John Hritz said Somers and Ruehs played No. 2 and 3 singles during the winter and came together nicely as doubles partners.
"I knew they were capable of such a performance," he said.
Ruehs and Somers defeated unseeded Anthony Antenucci and Jeff Jenkins of Warren JFK in a doubles semifinal, 6-3, 6-1, earlier in the morning to reach the final.
Albert and Josh Cook beat Fred Romeo and Matt McElroy of Poland, who were seeded third, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, in the other semifinal.
Antenucci and Jenkins took third place as they were victorious over Romeo and McElroy in the consolation final.
Poland's regular season was nearly perfect. The Bulldogs posted an impressive 19-1 record, with its only loss coming to University School, ranked No. 1 in the state. Poland went 12-0 to capture the Metro Athletic Conference title.
Hard work
"I took over about three years ago and said that we were going to try to build a state-ranked power," Hritz said. "The kids have worked hard in the off-season and during the season and have accomplished a lot of the goals we set for this year."
Ursuline's Kelton Person captured the singles sectional final, 6-0, 6-4, over second-seeded Dave Ceglia of Warren JFK.
Person, the No. 1 seed, said one of his goals was to win sectionals, but that he has bigger dreams in sight.
"I really want to go to state this year," Person said. "I have never made it before, but this year I think I have a really good chance to make it."
Person cruised to victory in his semifinal match against Jefferson's Alex Czayka, 6-1, 6-2. Ceglia topped Luke Duchek of Poland in the other semifinal match, 6-4, 7-5.
The third-seeded Duchek bounced back from his semifinal loss to defeat Czayka, 6-0, 6-3 in the consolation final.
Hritz was pleased with the results of sectionals.
"You are able to enter seven kids and our goal was to get all seven to districts," he said. "We got five out of seven, which is still really good."