Lady Tigers going for five straight
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008
BENTON COUNTY Dynasty.
That is one word that can be used to describe the Bentonville High School tennis program, which sets the bar for the others Class 7 A schools.
Last year, the Lady Tigers won their fourth straight state championship. Head coach Paul Pautsch said this years bunch has a strong chance at making it five straight championships.
The Lady Tigers have a strong base returning including half of the 2007 state doubles championship team in junior Amy Anderson. Seniors Anna Bever and Arden Brazzeal, juniors Kendall Kraus and Oksana Hiller and freshman Mckena Kraus will see court time.
The Lady Tigers are again stacked with talent. Six players are ranked inside the top 10 of Arkansas USTA rankings in their respective age groups.
My kids are all players, Pautsch said. They should definitely contend for a conference championship and then if we get the right draw, they can contend for a state championship. That is our goal.
Pautsch is just as excited about his boys team despite losing four state qualifiers. In the past four years, the boys have compiled 50 wins on their way to undefeated regular seasons.
Juniors Rex Chapman and Brandon Ellis provide the base for the Tigers.
They are as good as anyone in the state, Pautsch said. When youve got two quality kids like them leading the program, it is going to be a good year.
Joining Chapman and Ellis are freshmen Cory Clay, Zach Ellis, Kevin Morris, Varun Shah and Matthew Tabler.
They are going to step right into the firing lane, Pautsch said. These kids can all spank the ball.
Bentonvilles season begins Tuesday on the road at Van Buren.
The two high schools in the Rogers district Rogers High and Rogers Heritage are hoping that they can work together to raise their tennis games to give Bentonville a challenge.
The Mountaineers and War Eagles are practicing together this season.
We are going to build up (the city of ) Rogers program, said Rogers boys tennis coach Steve Peck. That is our dream.
The splitting up of the Rogers schools has not hurt the Mounties boys program.
I got the easy break as far as were all my kids lived, Peck said.
Peck thinks his team is on the rise and predicts it could finish second in the conference. The Mounties are led by sophomores Trent Lamers, Brandon Gentz and Luke Pascoe. Lamers and Gentz will play at No. 1 doubles. The rest of the lineup is up for compeplace on Sept. 25 when the Mounties face Bentonville.
The Rogers girls team is led by senior Karsyn Betts, who is ranked eighth in the state in her age group, according to the USTA.
Joining Betts in the top spots in the rotation are seniors Keely Dockins and Michele Kilgore and junior Caroline Kelley.
These four will make up the hub of our team, said Rogers girls coach Ronny Cowan.
Rogers first match is Tuesday against Fort Smith Southside at the district tennis courts at Rogers High School.
The HeritageWar Eagles tennis programs are just getting off the ground. The boys team has four players and head coach Matt Fulton looks to at least double the roster during the first week of school.
We are trying to build the program, Fulton said.
Leading the War Eagles is sophomore captain Alex Wiench, who played for the Mounties last year.
We are expecting a lot from him, Fulton said. He shows a lot of leadership and was at tition. every summer workout.
Peck is enthusiastic about The Lady War Eagles cast the talent on his 12-man includes Rachel Casey, Malloroster. ry Hoffman, Sarah Heimbach,
I have a deep team and ev- Emily Schaffer and freshman eryone can play, Peck said. Ashley Schamier.
Peck said a true measuring Heritages first match is on stick for his program will take Aug. 26 at Fayetteville.
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