Posted: 4/14/04

Boys tennis will be led by a sophomore

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

After virtually an entirely new team this year, Forest Lake High School boys tennis coach Greg Patchin says his team is going to have to get wins where it can.

ìThe team is going to be young, inexperienced, and if we play our best tennis in May we might surprise somebody,î Patchin said.

Sophomore Luke Odegaard is the only hold over singles player from last season. Odegaard is a three year letter winner who has compiled a 35-27 career record already.

Jeff Carlson will most likely play some singles matches this season in the number two position as he was a doubles player last season.

After Odegaard and Carlson the other singles spots are open for anybody to fill. Probables to fill the remaining singles positions are Chris Sobiech, Tom Kling, Matt Peterson and Sammy Steiner.

The doubles team will change from match to match as nobody has any varsity experience.

Top contenders for doubles play are seniors Jessup Schiks, Ted Steiner, Dan Cromwell and Jeff Kohler. Patchin says Mike Feist, Caleb Rotach, Spencer Conrad and Rob Gavanda also have a chance of seeing some doubles playing time.

ìI just have the nicest kids, good kids,î Patchin said. ìItís going to be a fun year and there will be no overt goals.î

Patchin says he is working on a two year plan since Schiks is the only senior on the team. He says next yearís lineup will resemble this years. Over the course of the season Patchin will also work with several seventh and eighth graders and try to develop some talent for the future.

ìForest Lake doesnít have a huge amount of tradition,î Patchin said. ìYou get a class that comes through and plays well, so half the battle is having nice kids. Iíll take a bunch of nice kids that work hard over some good tennis players you have to worry about their grades and what theyíre doing off the court.î

Competition

ìThe tennis playing field isnít very level,î Patchin said as he described the Suburban East Conference.
Mounds View should be atop the SEC standings. Other schools such as White Bear Lake and Stillwater will also be strong and prepare Forest Lake for sections.

ìRealistically weíll be in the bottom two or three in the conference,î Patchin said. ìOptimistically weíll be in the final four for the section though.î

Forest Lakeís next match is today (Thursday) at Centennial at 4 p.m.

Top of Page