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Show ,- -fmm.mnm . Z ... i Z - m,,Jtm mm v . - . . i. i " v. v" 't . ... . ; ' -r v - . Hit' "- - 4 ' - ' ;:v . .. i " .-; . , vt " - I . . .",.vu-v ' - " ' - ; v . f ,-Vi-" :.V " " 1 v: .,. . i -4. ..." ' cite - . - - ' 4 , ' -'-."t- ' .i -. ' , :?f,iv.. rI- ' f - ' . ' t J? .,-,''" '1 '-' ' ' " ' ' ' 7 - -' - ' - - 'v y ' ; ' 1 ' -". V. " . . i l ' - I I . wmmemimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmimmmm photo by David Hampshire photo by David Hampshire Chris Elkins, Park City High School's number one singles player, drives a two-fisted backhand across court (above), and slams a serve at his St. Joseph opponent (right). Park City tennis team maintains winning ways ' - ' . , f by Dave Adler The Park City High School tennis team renewed the momentum of last year's state championship Thursday at the Park Meadows Racquet Club with season-opening victories against South Summit and St. Joseph. Coach Bob Burns' squad, which has returned the defending numbers one and two 1-A state singles champions, had little difficulty. The Park City "B" team turned back South Summit, 3-2, and the "A" team blanked St. Joe, 5-0. The Miners host Mount Vernon and Dugway at 1:30 p.m. today at the Park Meadows Racquet Club. Chris Elkins, who won the 1-A number one singles title a year ago, opened his senior season with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over his St. Joe opponent. Fred Birch, only a freshman, marched to a 6-0, 6-1 sweep, and Greg King, lasi year s number two singles 1-A state titlist, breezed to a 6-0, 6-0 win in the number three singles slot. Park City's number one doubles team of Mike Birch and Max Soderstrom easily won its first set over St. Joseph 6-1, but struggled before winning the second set, 7-5. And the number two doubles team of Eric Fritz and Ron Matthews closed out the sweep with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. "St. Joe has a good team, but our kids played some good tennis," said Burns. "It's a nice way to open the season." Against South Summit, Burns rested his front line players and let the "B" team carry the Miners' banner. They carried it well. In the number one singles slot, Bart Davis, a freshman, lost the first set, 6-7, but came back to win the next two sets, 6-2, 6-1, to capture the match. However, Mike Birch was defeated, 1-6, 2-6, in the second singles match, and Joe Whitesides was downed, 6-4, 6-4, in the third. At that point a team victory against South Summit was in doubt. But the doubles teams picked up the gauntlet. The number one doubles team of Eric Fritz and Ron Matthews surged to a 6-2, 6-0 win, and James Clahane and Chris Carlson, both juniors, played tenaciously to win their doubles match, 7-6, 6-4. While his team was not severely tested in the opening meet, Burns cautioned that Rowland Hall has a "quality" team that will push the Miners. Park City visits Rowland Hall a week from today and returns home to host that squad a week later. The Miners will host the 1-A regionals on May 10 and the state championship on May 17. photo by Dave Adler Although this looks like a young Jimmy Connors, its actually Joe Whitesides, number three singles tennis player for the Park City High School "B" team. Joe lost his match, but the Miners defeated South Summit, 3-2. The "A" team beat St. Joseph, 5-0. v |