Preseason predictions don't guarantee postseason success, but North Carroll appears to be on the verge of achieving a double: winning the boys' and girls' Carroll County tennis championships.
The Panthers lost only one girl player from last spring's team, and the boys team returns four letter-winners.
But North Carroll co-coach John Lynam said he hasn't placed any expectations on the players.
"We look at it as we need to be as good as we can be," said Lynam, who runs both programs with Mike Klingenberg and Elizabeth Foyle. "Everything else will fall into place."
The Panthers girls will be led by the No. 1 doubles pairing of senior Brooke Foster and junior Heather Easter, who finished 19-1 and captured their second consecutive county girls doubles title.
Senior Charis Fulton, who finished No. 2 in the county, returns but will face a challenge for the top singles spot from senior Jessica Bradford.
On the boys side, senior Russell Iseminger, who played No. 1 doubles last season, has the unenviable task of replacing Craig Gordon, the county champ and The Sun's Player of the Year last spring. Sophomore Greg Stone, who had some play in the No. 2 role last spring, will likely fill that slot this season. Seniors Ted Redmer and Josh Gozelanczyk will play No. 1 doubles.
North Carroll's strength could spell trouble for reigning county champs Liberty and South Carroll.
The Lions girls, who have won three straight titles, return several veterans, including senior Carly Ferguson, who played No. 1 doubles last year, and juniors Amanda Bange and Becky Bradley, who lost to Easter and Foster in the finals.
But the team will have to overcome the loss of Shen Poehlman, a three-time county singles champ who was killed last summer by a New York man who asked her to baby-sit for him.
Coach Bruce Damasio said the inclement weather will likely force him to wait until next month to determine an everyday lineup. The boys squad features only two seniors, Jeff Shook and Adam Youssi, out of 13 players.
At South Carroll, only two boys on the 12-2 team that won the county crown are back, seniors Mike Reiter and All-County selection John Luster. Co-coach Jim Carnes, who is assisted by Pam Boan, said he expects production from senior Rob Kesler.
The girls squad returns five seniors, including Alex Koustenis and Veronica Wolfhard, both of whom are competing for the top singles position. But the Cavaliers will be hard-pressed to improve on last year's 1-13 mark.
Inexperience could handcuff Francis Scott Key and Westminster. The Eagles lost seven seniors from a 7-5 squad and will rely on senior Jason Schaum and junior Stuart Israel to anchor a youthful roster. Coach Derrik Hess, however, may have a secret weapon in Peruvian exchange student Derek Manheim, a right-handed base-liner.
The girls team will be led by junior Charlotte Gowen, who played No. 1 singles, and senior Jessica Broderick, who played No. 3 doubles last season but will be paired with a new partner, sophomore Sarah Caprarola, in the No. 1 spot.
For the Owls, who finished second last year, sophomore Christie Stansfield (No. 1 singles), senior Amanda Fogle (No. 2 singles) and the duo of junior Rachel Lindsay and sophomore Anne Yust (No. 1 doubles) will be expected to steer a young lineup.
For the boys, the graduation of Danny Piper and Kush Javia turns the spotlight onto junior Greg Halstead and freshman Jesse Myers. Kyle Green, a junior transfer from Francis Scott Key, could also contribute.
Pub Date: 3/25/99