By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published April 17, 2005
WHEN: Monday-Tuesday.
AT STAKE: District champion and runnerups earn trophies; the champion and runnerup in each singles and doubles division get ribbons. Team champions in each district advance to eight region matches April 22 at a location to be determined. Region winners advance to state. The district No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles champions advance directly to state.
ADMISSION: Free.
CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 6
TEAMS: Central, Land O'Lakes, Mitchell, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Springstead.
WHERE: James Valentine Athletic Complex, River Ridge.
SCHEDULE: Boys and girls start at 8:30 a.m..
BOYS OUTLOOK: Led by No. 1 player Vu-Anh Thai, Land O'Lakes is a strong favorite to repeat as district champion. The strongest challenge should come from Mitchell. Look for a fierce battle between Thai and Mitchell No. 1 Gregg Strange. If Strange withdraws because of injury, he can still win a title at No. 1 doubles with Mike Ciadella.
GIRLS OUTLOOK: Central seeks its sixth consecutive district title and third region championship in five seasons. Central is led by undefeated sophomore Jeanette McDonald at the No. 1 spot. River Ridge might be the county's best hope. It is led by German exchange student Ina Groeger and the Hille twins, Lauren and Ryane.
BOYS OUTLOOK: The Leopards ran roughshod over county teams last season, winning every match but No. 1 singles for their third straight district title. That team was loaded with seniors but Hernando always finds reinforcements and should be a contender. Wesley Chapel's Chris Arfsten has become the Wildcats' ace after successful stints at No. 3 and No. 2.
GIRLS OUTLOOK: Wesley Chapel's Yumi Hasegawa, the Times' County Player of the Year, decided to compete in Japan this semester. Her exit opens the door for Meighan O'Connor, the Cobras' No. 1 singles player who is undefeated in district play this season. The Wildcats' Sami Wloch has assumed her team's role at No. 1 singles player with Hasegawa's departure.
CLASS A, DISTRICT 8
TEAMS: Saddlebrook, Berkeley Prep, Calvary Christian, Cambridge, Clearwater Central Catholic, Indian Rocks Christian, Tampa Prep.
WHERE: Royal Racquet Club, Clearwater.
WHEN: Boys and girls start at 8:30 a.m.
BOYS OUTLOOK: Saddlebrook only scheduled eight matches with many of the boys getting their five-match match requirement to be eligible for district competition within the past week. Dominic Pagon is the No. 1 and will try to avenge his only loss to Tampa Prep in the final. The Spartans also have one of the top No. 3 players in Jonathan Wong.
GIRLS OUTLOOK: Yui Shimizu, Saddlebrook's No. 1 singles player, beat Groeger and is favored to win the district title. Kourtney Stark and Victoria Kostina are solid No. 2 and No. 3 players for the Spartans. Like Saddlebrook's boys, the girls should face little resistance at the district level.
