Raiders loaded for SPSL boys tennis

Perilous paths for opponents to follow will target the Federal Way School District area.

When South Puget Sound League boys tennis teams map out their route to 2010-2011 sterling supremacy, all roads will eventually have to pass through the dangerous territory of Thomas Jefferson High School.

In his 20th year at the helm, Jefferson head coach Andrew Buchan is strongly confident about his squad's opportunity to reel in another top spot after an undefeated 10-0 Central Division season last year.

"We are definitely the favorite, but there will be some stiff individual competition in the Central (Division)," said Buchan. "Each team in the league has at least one top player. Our strength is in our solid depth. Auburn also has some depth. Kentridge (10-0, West Central District champion) and Kentwood (8-2, WCD runnerup) in the North graduated significant key players and Emerald Ridge (9-1 last season) should lead the South."

Jefferson graduated five seniors including district players Joe Lee and Branden Muraki along with state doubles athlete Kyle Creek but returns its big three of state players. This Hawaiian trio looks forward to even more achievement this season.

The Rosa bothers, Makoa and Kainoa, came at their opponents like a powerful tsunami last season and rode the waves to a fifth-place state finish in the spring, making their mother, Raider assistant tennis and gymnastics coach Laura Rosa very proud.

Hard work through the state experiences gives these players an added edge and incentive for this season.

"That experience made us more ready," stated senior player Makoa. "We now know what it's like. I feel definitely more prepared because I understand the intensity. During the summer I played a lot of singles and tried to improve my consistency on ground strokes.

Kainoa also is more prepared in his junior year.

"The state experience prepared me a lot," he said. "I know the level of play and it's louder at state than during CHAMPS level of play. There's lots of cheering at state. I've really been working on serves and trying to gain more consistent ground strokes."

Senior Brandyn Gomez teamed up in doubles at state with the now graduated Creek.

"Even though we lost a lot of key players, we still have our top three," observed Gomez. "On our team, we have a lot of great potential with the high JV players moving up from last season. Most of my doubles partners graduated so I'm looking for the right chemistry in a new doubles partner. I'm not ruling out singles play."

Other returning players are junior James Lee and sophomore Alex Lee. James Lee played two singles matches at district last season.

"I expect the Central Divison (Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Curtis, Federal Way, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer) to field the largest group of district athletes," concluded Buchan. "Competition in the Central is intense."

According to Buchan freshman Mitch Stewart at Federal Way has the potential to become a four-time singles titleist in the tradition of the graduated Max Manthou of Kentwood. Stewart currently ranks No. 32 in the nation and finished strongly in a recent tournament in San Antonio which featured a huge field of players. After losing his first match, Stewart reeled off nine consecutive match wins to claim the runner up position.

Returning for coach Jerome Collins from last season's third place (5-5) Eagles are seniors Dalton Alvey and Gorav Gupta, junior Ben Blackner and sophomore Alex Lewis.

Todd Beamer's hopes rest largely on state singles player Joseph de la Cruz (1-2 at state last season) who is now a junior. Also back for coach Brent Brilhante (fourth year) from last year's 6-4 second place squad are seniors Jay Lee and Danny Kim along with juniors Nick Cooke, Ryan Wolfe and Eugene Lee.

Decatur has moved into the Class 3A classification and has been replaced in the SPSL by Mount Rainier,which is in the North Division.