Spring Sports Preview: Liberty Looks to Repeat as County Tennis Champs

Liberty looks like the team to beat in the county this Spring, backing up a successful 2010.

Century

The Knight girls were 3-15 last year, while boys were 9-9.

The girls have one returning senior in the starting line-up according to coach Amber Geiger. This is her fourth year coaching tennis, her third at Century.

All of the girls starting at varsity this year played varsity for all or part of the season last year. Those players are Wendy Zehner, Kendell Caracciolo, Jillian Magee, Taylor Langley, Peyton Morris, Jess Curto, Bry Southan, and Hallie Sharkey.

Last year the mixed doubles team of Wendy Zehner and Trey Howes make it to the second round at regionals.

"Our outlook for this season is to continue building. We have a team where several of the players are closely ranked and several are fairly new to tennis," said Geiger.

The boys return six of their eight starters for coach Scott Booker. Five of the players are seniors.

Booker will be counting on Dan Barrett and Robert Moore as singles and Howes and Ryan Sanzi will be the top doubles team for the Knights.

Liberty

The girls were 15-2 last year and co-county champions. The boys were county champions at 15-2. The Lions were combined regional champs in 2010.

Top returning players for the girls are Natalie Naused, Heather Greenberg, Katie Klasmeier, Lauren Williams, Erin Conway and Jenna Kobett.

New to the squad this year are Megan Soderlund and Grace McCarthy.

Naused and Greenberg are single palyers while Williams and Kristen Henretty, Soderlund and Conway and Klasmeier and Kobett are the double teams.

Coach Tim Becker has carried a whistle for 16 years and David Abarbanel for four years.

"The Lady Lions tennis team has some tough shoes to fill at first doubles with the loss of Sarah Lawrence and Ali Bukowitz. However, a large core from last year's Co-County Champions still remains," said Becker.

He said North Carroll and Westminster always have very strong teams.

On the boys side, Justin Lansinger, Shane McCracken, Matt Hardesty and Andrew Johns return.

The Lions welcome Alex Dangel, Adolfo Blassino, Greg Smith, Owen Klasmeier, and Bryan Pisarra this Spring.

Liberty will have Lansinger and McCracken as singles. The doubles teams are Hardesty and Brian Bartholomew, A.J. Robbins and Andy Boyer, Pat Marsden and Johns.

"The Liberty tennis boys hope to defend their county title with Justin Lansinger and Shane McCracken leading the way at singles. The team graduated seven members, but we feel that the strong depth from last year will be able to come in to the line-up and fill some key roles," said Becker as he viewed the upcoming season.

Becker feels Westminster and North Carroll will challenge the Lions for the county title.

Asked about goals for this year, Becker said, " We want to see some new players to the line-up step in and be big contributors."

He went on to say, "We have great kids that put in a lot of effort at practice. We are very proud of the quality of people that we have on the team."

South Carroll

The Cavalier girls were 12-6 last year and boys were 5-13.

Darian Naill will be first singles for South Carroll. Returning for the Cavaliers this year are Deborah Mullen Kaity Erickson, Natalie Brenner and Paige Wendler.

Newcomers for South Carroll are Regan Lerner, Haley Terpening, Katie Leyton, Ellie Klausmeyer and Anna Donohoe.

Coach Jim Carnes says they are still working on the line-up for the boys. He points out that the Cavaliers are very inexperienced.

Top returners are Kevin Johnson, Dan Waters and Ryan VanFleet, while John Seymour and Kevin Feinberg are the top newcomers.