Preps: Green Valley boys tennis team features three aces

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 10:41 a.m.

Regular season practices have been anything but ordinary for the Green Valley boys tennis team this season.

They've been more like mini-previews of this week's 4A state tournament.

That's because the Gators' top three singles players -- sophomore Chasen Cohen, senior Matt Hedegaard and junior Ben Regin -- spend those practices taking turns gutting out tough wins against one another, for the right to play in the team's No. 1 slot.

"I like the top guys to hit against each other," Green Valley coach Jeff Horn said. "And when they play and someone loses, you've got to respect that."

The three Gators -- all of whom will participate in the upcoming eight-player individual singles tournament -- have been like interchangeable parts this year, with each playing in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 position at times this fall.

And more than anything else, the trio is the main reason Green Valley is considered the prohibitive favorite to capture its fourth straight state team title Friday in Reno.

"Our depth makes us real tough," said Regin, who finished second to Hedegaard in last week's Southern Zone Tournament. "We all give each other good matches, and on any given day, anybody could win."

"We have an advantage over all the other teams because we play each other in practice," agreed Cohen, who placed fourth at zone despite playing on an injured ankle.

Of course, by competing so often in practice, each Gator has become quite familiar with his teammates' strengths and weaknesses. And when they meet in tournament action, they're not afraid to use whatever advantage may be at their disposal.

"They're all competitors," Horn said. "When they get on the court, they put aside their friendships."

But regardless of what happens on the court, the three insist they remain close when all is said and done.

"When we play each other, it's all left out on the court," said Hedegaard, who posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Regin in the zone championship.

Today and Friday, Cohen, Hedegaard and Regin will be unified in their quest for the 1998 state team title. Then, on Saturday, the trio will try to bring the individual crown home to Southern Nevada.

And, if all goes according to plan, the final may see a pair of Gators battling one last time for all the marbles.

"That's been our goal all year," Cohen said. "To make it as a team and to make it as individuals. Hopefully, it will come down to two of us."