Tyler Junior College Netters Begin Quest For Tennis Crown
McLUSKEY
By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
The Tyler Junior College and Laredo men’s tennis teams have combined to win the last six national championships.
Staff Writer
The Tyler Junior College and Laredo men’s tennis teams have combined to win the last six national championships.
That trend is likely to continue when the 2008 champion is crowned later this week in Plano, given that Laredo is ranked No. 1 and TJC is No. 2.
“We’re the best two teams, there’s no doubt about it,” said TJC head coach John Peterson, whose team has finished second to Laredo the last three years.
The NJCAA Men’s Tennis Championships got under way Monday at Collin College, but TJC and Laredo had first-round byes in all nine flights. Laredo is seeded either first or second in six flights — five for the Apaches.
“Laredo is not going to lose any matches (Tuesday),” Peterson said.
The Apaches are expected to match Laredo in today’s action, although Peterson warned that TJC’s Dominic McLuskey faces a challenge against Mississippi state champion Hleb Maslau of Hinds (Miss.) Community College.
McLuskey, named the ITA Rookie of the Year at Sunday’s banquet, is seeded fourth while Maslau did not get a seed despite being undefeated in junior college action.
TJC’s No. 1 seeds are Roman Petrunin at No. 3, J.J. Haley at No. 5 and Clay Cypert at No. 6. Thibaud Aime is seeded fourth at Flight 2, and Zack Goldsmith is seeded second at No. 4.
In doubles, McLuskey-Petrunin is seeded second, while Goldsmith-Haley and Aime-Cypert are No. 3 seeds.
“This is one the stronger squads we’ve had in quite a few years,” Peterson said. “This year the strength of our squad has been our depth. Maybe we’re not great at the top, but our 6 is just about as good as our 1. It’s great to be seeded in everything, that’s a sign of respect.”
Laredo edged TJC for the Region XIV title, 5-4, in a dual match last month. Afterward, Peterson credited Laredo’s strength at the top of the lineup and their vast experience.
Last year, the Apaches had the older team.
“I thought we were going to win (the national championship) last year,” Peterson said. “We had beaten Laredo in the dual matches and we were in position to do it, but last year Laredo was just tougher than we were. We let that tournament get away from us.
“I thought we were going to win (the national championship) last year,” Peterson said. “We had beaten Laredo in the dual matches and we were in position to do it, but last year Laredo was just tougher than we were. We let that tournament get away from us.
“This year we’re really a young team with Cypert being our only sophomore and him new to our team. Maybe this is Laredo’s year. They’ve got the sophomores, but this is a good group of guys (at TJC) and a very talented group of guys.”
Notes: Abraham Baldwin (Ga.), ranked eighth in the national poll, has the ITA National Player of the Year in Paul Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is seeded second at Flight 1. ... Vincennes (Ind.), ranked fourth, has the ITA National Player to Watch in Christopher King. ... Host Collin College is ranked third.
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