Wed, Jul 09 2008
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Published May 16, 2008 11:51 pm - Eagles, Cavaliers open sectional tennis bids By Rich Brown
rbrown@joplinglobe.com Joplin and Thomas Jefferson are back for the second straight year, while the Cardinals from Webb City are the new birds on the block today in the sectional play of the MSHSAA team tennis championships. Joplin brings a 9-4 record into the Class 2 sectionals, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Schifferdecker Park courts, against Jefferson City Helias (11-4). In the other sectional at Schifferdecker, Springfield Glendale (14-4) will meet Columbia Rock Bridge (22-0). Thomas Jefferson (9-1) and Webb City (12-2) will take to the road for their sectionals. The Cavaliers, defending Class 1 state champions, will be in Branson to meet West Plains (9-2), while the Cardinals will go to Forsyth (13-2) to take on the host team. Both contests get under way at 9:30 a.m. Winners at both sites will then meet each other in the quarterfinals to complete the Saturday schedule. Quarterfinal winners will advance to team semifinals Thursday at the Cooper Complex in Springfield. Competition for individual state qualifiers will conclude the state tournament on Friday and Saturday, May 24. John Lazenby, who finished fifth in state last year as a sophomore, again leads the Joplin team at the No. 1 singles position, as well as combining with junior Chris Ingle in the top doubles spot. Senior Michael McCreary holds down No. 2 and is followed, in order, by senior Alan Liu, Ingle, sophomore Matt McCreary and sophomore Arshan Dehbozorgi. Michael McCreary and Liu combine at No. 2 doubles, while Matt McCreary and Cody Maples are at No. 3. “We are very excited to be where we are,” Joplin coach Sean McWilliams said. “One of our goals was to make the sectionals.” McWilliams said Rock Bridge is the favorite going into the Joplin sectional, having beaten the Eagles, Glendale and Helias during the regular season. Senior Will Humphreys, at No. 1, leads another strong Thomas Jefferson squad. Another senior, Joe Newman, Humphreys’ doubles partner at No. 1, will be playing No. 2 singles. Then comes an entourage of sophomores. They are, in order of their play, Spenser Newman, David Evans, Coleman Bandy and Andrew Prigmore. First-year coach Diego Camacho, a University of Tulsa graduate who recently completed play for his Bolivian Davis Cup team, said the Cavaliers are ready to go after another state title. “There is always a lot of pressure in playing for a state championship,” he said. “But, the guys have been working really hard; nobody has been working any harder. We have been working hard physically and that makes us stronger mentally.” Camacho said of all the strokes he has stressed, he has been putting emphasis on the forehand. “We have been addressing a powerful forehand ... making the forehand more of a weapon,” he said. Webb City coach Ryan Odaffer has a young team, led by sophomore Ryan Miller, that has enjoyed a lot of success. 
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