2012 Boys Tennis Capsule Previews

ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Lucas Leavitt, fourth season
2011 record: 8-5 (5-4 Northwest)
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Donavan Tracy (Sr.), Mike Lester (Sr.), Ashton Arizmendiz (So.)
Outlook: The Aggies qualified for the postseason last year, but lost five seniors from that team.

“This year’s team is very young,” Leavitt said. “Hopefully our young guys can come through with some big wins.”

PALO VERDE
Head coach: Zach Brandt, 11th season
2011 record: 13-1 (9-0 Northwest)
Returning lettermen: 12
Top players: Zack Surmacz (Jr.), Wesley Mann (Sr.), Bailey Swainston (Sr.), Conor Safborn (So.), Rhett Bossung (So.)
Outlook: The Panthers came up just short of securing another state title last year, but bring back plenty of experience.

“We have a good group with a few returners,” Brandt said. “We are hoping to return again to the postseason.”

SOUTHWEST LEAGUE

BONANZA
Head coach: Bill Pollock, first season
2011 record: 6-4 (6-2 Southwest)
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Andy Stephenson (So.), Jacob Mabey (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bengals have one of the state’s most storied programs, but may struggle to compete this year.
“We are trying to field a full team,” Pollock said. “We only have seven players on the roster.”

CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Jeff Noa, third season
2011 record: 11-3 (8-1 Northwest)
Top players: Lucas Lee (Sr.), Greg Madsen (Sr.), Dakota Trombley (So.), Dallan Johnson (Jr.), Parker McDonough (Jr.)
Outlook: Lee and Madsen lead an experienced group that expects to compete with Bishop Gorman for the Southwest title.

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Pat Thomas, 20th season
2011 record: 5-6 (4-5 Northwest)
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top players: Taylor Larsen (Sr.), James Salls (Sr.)
Outlook: Larsen and Salls advanced to the doubles quarterfinals in the Sunset Region tournament last year and will be asked to lead the squad.

“We would really like to get back into the regional team tournament this year,” Thomas said. “It’s a new conference, so we are not sure how we measure up this year.”

DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Kelly Perryman, fifth season
2011 record: 4-6 (3-5 Southwest)
Returning lettermen: Four
Top player: Bryce Tacker (So.)
Outlook: Tacker went 19-12 last season and will be among the leaders on a team that hopes to compete for a postseason berth.

NORTHEAST LEAGUE

CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Cheryl Dameron, eighth season
2011 record: 0-10 (0-8 Northeast)
Outlook: The Pioneers are hoping to rebuild after not being able to field a full team last season.

LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Sam Thomas, second season
2011 record: 10-2 (8-0 Northeast)
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Zach Blanco (Sr.), T.J. Esporsa (Jr.), Kevin Fedde (Jr.), Shane Marquez (Jr.)
Outlook: Blanco and Esporsa lead a list of five returnees for the defending Northeast League champions.

“With the new divisions, it’s going to be a much tougher road to be successful, but our kids are working hard to get better,” Thomas said.

RANCHO
Head coach: Kevin Lord, sixth season
2011 record: 4-4 (4-4 Northeast)
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Rohan Gupte (Jr.), Bryan Sloan (Sr.), Peng Huang (Sr.), Jacob Egan (So.)
Outlook: Gupte advanced to the state semifinals in singles last year and returns to lead a team with four other returnees.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting, challenging year,” Lord said. “I fully expect to take Rohan to state again.”

VALLEY
Head coach: Matt Porter, ninth season
2011 record: 7-4 (6-2 Northeast)
Returning lettermen: 10
Top players: Lorenzo Capannolo, Michael Coppedge, David Delaney, Brandon Rinker
Outlook: Eight of Valley’s nine regular starters are back from last season as the Vikings hope to compete in what has become a much more difficult Northeast League.

“The team has experience and depth returning and hopes to do well in the new division,” Porter said. “The team should be led by the No. 1 doubles of Capannolo and Coppedge, with Delaney as the team’s No. 1 singles player.”

SOUTHEAST LEAGUE

BASIC
Head coach: Bart Black, 17th season
2011 record: 4-6 (3-5 Southeast)
Returning lettermen: 10
Top players: Ryan Weldon (Sr.), Nick Wheatley (Sr.)
Outlook: Weldon reached the round of 16 in the Sunrise Region doubles tournament last year and leads a list of 10 returnees.

“We have a lot of returning players with a heavy dose of seniors,” Black said. “We’re hoping to reach the playoffs.”

DEL SOL
Head  coach: Will Ray, third season
2011 record: 0-10 (0-8 Southeast)
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Jonathon Hart (So.), Alex Walker (So.), Nick Trujillo (Jr.), Mike DeLeon (Jr.)
Outlook: The Dragons struggled last season and are hoping to find some success this year.

“We have a lot of multi-sport athletes, but tennis is a new experience for most of our players,” Ray said. “A new conference and a new-look team will definitely be interesting.”

ELDORADO
Head coach: Phil Olsen, fifth season
2011 record: 7-5 (5-3 Northeast)
Returning lettermen: Six
Top players: Joey Barnhurst (Sr.), Seattle Stoneback (Sr.)
Outlook: Barnhurst and Stoneback teamed to advance to the Sunrise Region semifinals in doubles last season and are expected to lead the team again this year.

“We have good experience coming back from last year’s team,” Olsen said. “Being in a tougher league is going to make us play harder and better each match, but in the long run, it will make us a better team.”

FOOTHILL
Head coach: Mark Richards, eighth season
2011 record: 6-4 (5-3 Southeast)
Returning lettermen: Nine
Top players: A.J. Mortel (Sr.), Seth Tanner (Sr.), Alec Wadkins (Sr.)
Outlook: The Falcons have seven regular members of their lineup back from a team that placed fourth in the Southeast.

“We’re looking to return to the playoffs in a very competitive league,” Richards said.

LIBERTY
Head coach: Kih Gourrier, seventh season
2011 record: 9-3 (6-2 Southeast)
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Blayze O’Keefe (So.)
Outlook: O’Keefe leads five returnees for the Patriots.

“We have a lot of new kids, some with plenty of potential,” Gourrier said. “We should make a strong playoff run.”

DIVISION I-A SUNSET LEAGUE

CLARK
Head coach: Clarence Chun, seventh season
2011 record: 9-2 (8-0 Southwest)
Returning lettermen: 12
Top players: Joseph Maalouf (Sr.), Kevin Ross (Sr.), Sean Truong (Sr.)
Outlook: With twelve players back from a team that won the Southwest League title last year, the Chargers are primed for a big season.

“We expect to contend for the Division I-A state title,” Chun said. “The team practices hard and plays harder.”

FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Jeff Foley, second season
2011 record: 9-4 (7-2 Northwest)
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Brandon Becker (Sr.), Mitch Taylor (Jr.), Mario Stadtlander (So.), Jack Stevens (Fr.), Hunter Wana (Fr.)

Outlook: Faith Lutheran experience plenty of success last season, but replicating it will be difficult after losing seven seniors. The Crusaders could start as many as six freshmen.

“Even though the roster is so new, we have hopes for the team,” Foley said. “Many of the freshmen were on the middle school team last year and have been working hard all summer.

“We are looking forward to being in the hunt for a spot in the regionals again.”

DIVISION I-A SUNRISE LEAGUE

BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Eric Speaker, 11th season
2011 record: 3-7 (2-6 Southeast)
Top player: Daniel Henderson (Sr.)
Outlook: The Eagles should benefit a bit from the move to Division I-A and likely will be in the hunt for a postseason berth.

CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Matthew Balodis, second season
2011 record: 9-2 (7-1 Northeast)
Top players: Matthew Terry (Sr.), Nick Hansen (Jr.), Abe Ibarra (Sr.), Brian Moya (Sr.), Zack Harmon (Sr.)
Outlook: The Cowboys return only two players from a team that finished second in the Northeast League last season.

“It’s the first time in five years that we are in a rebuilding stage,” Balodis said. “We have a lot of first-year players.

“Our goal will be to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year. It won’t be easy, but hopefully we can be competitive.”

MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Donna Swanson, first season
2011 record: 3-7 (3-5 Northeast)
Top players: Kade Bryant (Sr.)
Outlook: Bryant had a successful season last year and was a top seed for the region tournament in doubles.

“The team is young with 24 boys on board,” Swanson said.

VIRGIN VALLEY
Head coach: Jon Felix, fourth season
2011 record: 5-5 (4-4 Southwest)
Returning lettermen: Four
Top players: Jacob Mikkelsen (Jr.), Nate Hughes (Jr.), Zach Seaman (Jr.), Blake Leavitt (Sr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs are coming off a team postseason berth last year, and also should benefit from the move to Division I-A.

“We are still building our program,” Felix said. “We are in our fourth year since tennis became a sport offered at Virgin Valley. Most of our team is made up of juniors.”