By Ricky Dimon/Score Atlanta
No sport is more vulnerable to weather conditions than tennis, so an early February start to the high school season is always a dicey proposition. Countless matches last week, not surprisingly, were cancelled due to rain, extreme cold or wind.
Nonetheless, a few schools managed to get in a decent amount of action. The Bremen boys in Class AA and Roswell’s boys of Class AAAAAA both played three matches last week. Bremen came out on the losing end each time, but it was always competitive with setbacks of 3-2 against Berkmar, 3-2 against East Coweta and 4-1 against McIntosh. Roswell swept aside its opponents by beating Berkmar 5-0, McIntosh 4-1 and Heritage School 4-1.
The Roswell girls are off to a similarly fast start this season. Last week they took down Berkmar 5-0, Bremen 3-1 and Rockdale County 4-1. Despite the loss to Roswell, Bremen’s girls got the best of Allatoona and McIntosh in a pair of 4-1 decisions.
One of the most dominant powers in the state, the Walton girls have won 12 state titles since 2001. Now the boys are hoping to join them as a powerhouse in 2015. The Raiders, whose state finishes the last six years include two runner-ups, a semifinal and a quarterfinal, return six starters. They also welcome back Santa Clara commitment Morgan Stone, who skipped the two previous seasons of high school tennis and is ranked in the top 10 among junior boys in Georgia (tennisrecruiting.net).
“It’s always a possibility,” coach John Evans told the Marietta Daily Journal, referencing his team’s title chances. “We have a good group coming back, and a good group of young kids. It’s a long season, so we’ll have to take it one match at a time. I like the team chemistry and feel good about our capabilities.
Away from the court, some news around the state was made earlier this month in the form of college signings. Stratford Academy’s Kenji Yoshida is taking his talents to Wofford College. Yoshida, who helped Stratford to a 17-0 season and a state championship in 2014, has overcome an early-life health setback in which doctors told him he would have complications in breathing and athletics because of heart and chest issues that resulted in inward-growing ribs.
"They said I’d probably never be able to play sports in college or compete with my peers, but I get to prove that wrong,” Yoshida told the Macon Telegraph. “You can really do whatever you put your mind to, but you’re going to have to make some sacrifices. But I can personally say it’s definitely worth it.”
About the Author