Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Singles carry the Cutthroats a long way

Prep tennis season to debut

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Community School coach Mark Scribner has taken a look at his singles line-up for the upcoming 2004 prep tennis season and knows the Cutthroats will be in the thick of things at May’s State 3A meet in Boise.

That’s really nothing new for the Cutthroats under eighth-year coach Scribner.

Singles have been very, very good to The Community School, State 3A champions in 2002 and 2001. The Cutthroats have averaged 67 points in the last seven state meets. Such averages win a ton of trophies.

Of those 471 Cutthroat points at state since 1997, 303 or 64% have come in singles.

Last May the Cutthroats piled up 50 points in singles, out of their grand total of 59 points, and tied for second with rival Wood River High of Hailey in the team totals behind overall winner Homedale (62).

This year, the Cutthroats could be looking at a minimum of 50 points in singles at state—maybe 36 in boys’ singles alone if they place 1-2 like they did in 2003. They could be unbeatable if they sneak in some doubles points and placements.

Scribner said, "I believe we have the best boys’ singles players in the state.

"No one can beat our top two. We also have very, very good #1 mixed doubles and #1 boys’ doubles teams, and two good girls’ singles players. It will come down to our depth."

He added, "We’re still a pretty young team. But I think Wood River is the favorite. They have a lot of depth and a new coach (John Radford) who is a real disciplinarian."

Wood River will need plenty of depth and doubles strength to break the six-year strangehold that The Community School has on the Fourth District 3A team championship.

That’s because of singles.

Scribner’s top two boys are good ones in junior Tyler Martin and sophomore Scooter Sabel. Martin was second to teammate Joel Evans, a senior, in last May’s State 3A boys’ singles final. And Sabel won two matches in his first trip.

Since state king Evans and the 3-4 state boys’ finishers—Adam Hines of Culdesac and Bryan Carpenter of Weiser—were all seniors last May, the field looks to be wide open for 2004. Remember that the Cutthroats have won three straight state boys’ singles titles.

The #1 mixed doubles team features senior Luke Fostvedt, a returning state player, and freshman Mandy Alexander. Right behind in #2 mixed doubles is the junior team of J.P. McNeal and Blake Ellis.

Returning in girls’ singles is #1 player Amy Alexander, a senior who placed fourth in the state competition last May after winning the district title. Junior Caitlin Cairncross will likely surprise many in singles.

Sophomore Ginna Anderson and junior Ben Roth are other singles players fitting into the Cutthroat plans for 2004.

Coach Scribner is optimistic about his #1 boys’ doubles team of sophomore Wesley Flanagan and freshman Christian Cairncross, who also plays golf.

Playing #1 girls’ doubles will be senior Joanie Baumgardner and sophomore McKenzie Hart. In the #2 girls’ doubles spot will be sophomores Elizabeth Bates and Lily Mott.

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