Preps: Green Valley figures to score in postseason tourney

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

As has often been the case in the 1990s, this year's prep postseason kicks off today with a decidedly green flavor.

That's green as in Green Valley, the school which figures to be in the thick of all three of this week's 4A Southern Zone Tournaments: boys tennis, girls tennis and girls golf.

Things got under way this morning on the courts, where the Gators are the top seeds in both the boys and girls bracekts. Green Valley dominated the Sunrise Division during the regular season, compiling identical 9-0 marks to win the boys and girls titles.

On the boys side, the defending state champion Gators opened against Bonanza (8-1), the Sunset's No. 2 finisher, this morning at 9 a.m. In today's other semifinal, Sunset champ Bishop Gorman (9-0) battles Silverado (8-1) at 3 p.m. at The Meadows.

The team finals are slated for Thursday at 9 a.m., also at The Meadows. In a meeting earlier this season, Green Valley handled the Gaels easily, winning 17.5 to 5.

The girls tennis title may be tougher to come by for the Gators, who would love to avenge their loss to Gorman in last year's state championship.

Green Valley opened this morning against Bonanza (8-1), with the winner of today's Gorman (9-0) vs. Silverado (8-1) match waiting in the wings. The zone final will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday at Durango.

Individual zone tennis titles are also on the line this week, with competitive fields of 16 singles players and eight doubles pairs ready to go in boys and girls action.

For the boys, Green Valley's trio of Chasen Cohen, Ben Regin and Matt Hedegaard should be in the hunt for the singles crown, along with The Meadows' Adrian Himmelheber. The doubles title should come down to Gorman's duo of David DeMartino and Sean Margulis against the Gators' Brian Schuchmann and Mike Schuldt.

On the girls side, Silverado freshman Jamie Marshall, Green Valley's Antonella Realo and Annie Rapp and Gorman's Jennifer Kuhl should battle to reach Friday's singles final, while Gorman's Amy Friedlander and Kristen Turner are scheduled to meet Green Valley's Lisa Lester and Linsay Sobers in the doubles championship.

The Gators are a virtual lock to capture Thursday's 18-hole zone girls golf tournament, which kicks off at noon at Rhodes Ranch Golf Club. Green Valley hasn't lost a dual match since 1992, and should have little trouble defending its state title.

Joining Green Valley in the battle for the team title will be Basic, Silverado and Las Vegas from the Sunrise Division, along with Durango, Gorman, Bonanza and Cimarron from the Sunset.

Five Gators -- Emily De'Ath, Kimberly Kindig, Christine Fernandez, Mary Fernandez and Ashlei Penleton -- should also be in the hunt for the individual zone title. Others who could figure into the race include Valley's Annie Schlosser, Bonanza's Jordan Auten, Silverado's Monika Lee, Durango's Laura DeLucia and Basic's Tarah Badger.