5A should be proud of local tennis tradition

The Class 5A tennis landscape certainly has changed this season. I saw three of the top boys’ teams – Winfield, McPherson and Salina South – Friday at the McPherson tournament.

Their status as top tennis programs hasn’t changed, but after Salina Central’s stranglehold on 5A state titles, it’s shaping up to be an interesting run to the 2010 championship. Salina Central won the past six state titles, but after graduating all four of its state semifinalists from last year, the school isn’t ranked this season.

Hutchinson, which did not lose a player in 2009, is the top-ranked team in the Kansas coaches’ poll. Veteran coach Vance VanPelt and some of the Salthawks were on hand Friday to scout Winfield, which won the tournament. Winfield lost only one player to graduation.

Salina South, listed among “others” in 5A, placed second in McPherson. Although the Bullpups’ state-champion doubles team lost to a Winfield pair, McPherson has a lot to look forward to, including future tournaments on its new tennis courts. The tennis complex is a great facility, and lights are scheduled to be installed in the next 60 days.

Hutchinson is followed in the rankings by Winfield (No. 2) and McPherson (No. 3). Last year, Hutchinson placed second at state while McPherson finished third and Winfield was sixth.

Interestingly, the last boys’ team to win a 5A championship before Salina Central was McPherson. Hutchinson, McPherson and Salina South are assigned to the same 5A regional in May at Great Bend. Expect a battle in the doubles category, where McPherson returns seniors Nathan Wehrman and Mark Gayer, the defending state doubles champs. Hutchinson counters with seniors Ben Fangman and Ben Braun, who fell to a Salina Central pair in the consolation round last year and placed fourth at state.

Winfield may have an advantage since the Vikings will host their regional, but it includes Bishop Carroll and Kapaun Mt. Carmel, which usually produce formidable teams and their share of state qualifiers.

Regardless of the outcome, this area should be proud of its Class 5A tennis tradition. The last time a school from outside the Lawrence-Topeka-Kansas City area won a Class 6A team title was 1992, when Wichita Southeast prevailed.

In contrast, Salina Central, McPherson, Goddard and Kapaun have ensured that no team outside this area could conquer 5A since 1997, when Blue Valley North won.

Salina Central will be back; the Mustangs have an impressive tennis tradition. In the past 17 years, they have claimed the 5A crown nine times.

However, other local teams appear poised to snag the championship this season. So many of them are strong, it’s tough to pick a clear favorite.