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Tennis team looks to rebuild in 2011
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2010-11 Boardman High School boys tennis team
By Greg Gulas
The Boardman boys tennis team finished 9-8 last season and 2-5 in the Federal League. Even more, the squad lost 12 seniors to graduation.
This does not make things easy for coach Jeff Hammerton, now in his fourth season at the helm.
Among those lost are the top three singles (Kevin O’Neil, No. 1, Greg Ferenchak, No. 2 and Mario Leone No. 3) and top three doubles players (Joe Hosa, Kyle Blase and Andrew Macala) from a season ago.
The lone senior returning is Matt Owens, expected to be the Spartans’ No. 1 singles player and once they get to Federal League play, a No. 1 doubles partner.
Returning juniors include Joe Testa, Joel Mocker, Nate Higgins, David Holman, Alex Downie and Zach Warchol.
Two sophomores, Nick Lockshaw and Mikel Zeidenstein, who were outstanding on the junior varsity last season and saw limited varsity action, will pair up as doubles partners this season.
“Massillon Jackson has gone to state two of the last three seasons, while Uniontown Lake, who finished second in the league a season ago, returns everyone this season.
“We have our work cut out for us, but with a strong sophomore and junior class, the new faces will gain valuable experience and that will only make us better over the next few seasons,” Hammerton stated.