GSL tennis races shape up

Just like all the other spring sports, tennis was a victim of the weather – which put the Greater Spokane League in catch-up mode in the past two weeks.

“For the most part, we’re caught up now,” GSL tennis coordinator and Lewis and Clark athletic director Jeff Norton said. “We got caught with the bad weather just like everybody else. It wasn’t as bad for us as it was for baseball and softball, because we started matches about a week later, but it still put us behind. Aside from the odd match here and there, we’re on track.”

That means that the team standings are beginning to take shape.

On the boys’ side, Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark are atop the standings with 4-0 records, and Ferris is also undefeated at 3-0. Mead, University and Mt. Spokane are all 2-2, Central Valley is 1-2 and Shadle Park is 1-3. Rogers and North Central are still looking for a win, with 0-4 records.

G-Prep’s Alex Marcinkowski and Ferris’ Tom Geranios, who met last year in the District 8 4A final, are both back.

Marcinkowski went on to the State 4A tournament as the third seed out of the regional tournament. He has a solid chance of making a return trip and winning some matches among the state’s best.

“The schools that traditionally are strong are playing well for the boys,” Norton said. “It will be interesting to see where the boys end up with Alex and Tom both back and a few other guys that are playing well. It should be a really interesting district tournament.”

On the girls’ side, there are some new faces that have made an impact in the last few seasons and they’ve started out solidly again this year. Central Valley (3-0), Mead (4-0) and University (4-0) are all undefeated, while Mt. Spokane is 3-1. Lewis and Clark is 2-2, while Gonzaga Prep, Shadle Park and Ferris are all 1-3. Rogers is 0-3 and North Central is 0-4.

“One thing that has stood out the past couple years is the rise of the two valley schools,” Norton said.

“CV is loaded with seniors and (coach) Stan Chalich has really done well with his group of girls,” he added. “They have bonded really well, they compete hard, and they’re really strong at the top, especially with their No. 1 singles player, Leslie Ho. She’s really strong.”

Ho was the second seed out of the 4A regional tournament last year.

The CV and Mead girls and the Ferris and Lewis and Clark boys will go head-to-head on Tuesday in a battle of unbeaten teams.