Solid Start Cardinal Boys Tennis Team Keeps Winning Ways In Expanded League

Thu., April 23, 1998

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Sports

During the previous six years, Medical Lake’s boys tennis team compiled a 40-1 league record.

Coach LeRoy LeMaster was concerned, given the expanded Great Northern League and a new lineup, that the streak might not continue.

An early season 5-2 win over newcomer Pullman helped calm his fears.

“Since it was a new league, I didn’t know how good the teams would be,” he said. “We came out a little better than I thought.”

Through Monday, the Cardinals were 3-0 in the GNL and 5-3 overall despite the fact there are seven new players in the lineup.

Jeff Racicot moved from doubles, where he qualified for state last year, and is now the No. 1 one singles player.

Junior Mardy Harden, sophomore Jeremiah Johnson and junior Joe Braun are other singles players.

Doubles teams are senior Aaron Parlin and junior Tim Zeitler at No. 1, junior Derrek Daniels and sophomore Bud Piwowarski at No. 2, and junior Ryan Audett and freshman Patrick Dixon at No. 3.

Vying to break into the lineup are Nicke Lewan, Jeff Rockey and Chris Young.

“What has helped us is playing bigger schools,” said LeMaster. “Our kids have a kind of tradition and want to keep it.”

The seventh-year coach, recently retired as an employee from Lakeland Village, said he also wants to maintain tradition now that he has more time to spend having fun with tennis.

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