AREA GOLF, TENNIS TEAMS GETTING STARTED

In athletics, experience usually equals success.

The two Cape Girardeau high schools, Central and Notre Dame, have a load of golf experience returning from last year's successful teams.

Jackson, shooting for its fifth straight trip to the state tournament, lost five seniors to graduation and will field one of its most inexperienced teams in years.

Nevertheless, the golf season should shape up to be quite competitive locally.

"Southeast Missouri golf is always competitive," said Cape Central coach Dick Wadlington. "Poplar Bluff always has an outstanding team, Jackson has been very good and Sikeston has all their players back from last year. Notre Dame will also be very good."

A look at the local golf and tennis squads:

Cape Central

The Tigers return four golfers this season with at least three years of varsity experience and Wadlington is hoping that experience leads to success

"We've got as much as experience as we've ever had," said Wadlington. "I feel quite optimistic about our chances."

Seniors Dane McLaird, Michael Oslund and Bryan Welker have a total of 11 years of varsity experience combined. McLaird and Welker are four year lettermen while Oslund has lettered three years.

McLaird won the individual district title last year and placed 20th in the state.

"We're looking for good things from Dane," Wadlington said. "His average score last year was about 39."

Junior Danny Groesbeck, a three-year letterman, is another Tiger returning with plenty of varsity experience.

"We've got some experience with these people," Wadlington said. "Four of our top six players from last year are back. Bryan, Danny and Mike all averaged (scores) around 40 or 41."

Juniors Kent Phillips and Jeff Haycraft could fill out the starting lineup. Phillips looks like Central's fifth player with sophomores Josh Miller and Dusty York also looking for varsity action.

Central opens its season at Sikeston on Wednesday.

Notre Dame

With four of its five golfers returning from last year's Class 2A state tournament team that placed ninth, Notre Dame has its sights set on a third consecutive trip to the state meet.

"We're pretty optimistic," said Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "We lost (graduated senior) Dan Buerck, but the other four are all back and they're all seniors.

Seniors Jonathan LeGrand, Chris Koeper, Matt Howard and Cliff Seratti all return after competing for the 2A state title last year. LeGrand, who placed 29th at state, is the top returning state qualifier.

Nick Spantgos didn't make the state trip as the Bulldogs' sixth golfer last year, but was a key member of the squad during the regular season. After a year's absence, John Brey is also being looked at as key contributor. Nick Martin might also battle for a spot.

"I think we could put in some pretty good scores with these kids," Janet said.

On the junior varsity, sophomores Derek Welter, Davis Beussink and Jordan Tatum will join freshmen Lucas Klein, Ryan Hannan and John Hamm.

Notre Dame opens its season at home Thursday against Perryville and St. Vincent.

Jackson

After qualifying for the 4A state tournament the last four years, Jackson coach Ron Cook is looking at one of his most inexperienced squads in some time.

Five seniors graduated from last year's district champion and 11th place state team, leaving Cook to rebuild the program.

"Two or three of those guys played since their freshman years, so we lost a lot from last year," Cook said. "We're going to shoot for another winning season and hope to do well at districts again."

Junior Gabe Estes is the only golfer returning with state experience. Estes placed fourth in districts last year, but after him the remaining spots on the team are wide open.

Eighteen players are currently competing for 12 positions on the team. Seniors Craig Hutson and Todd Marchi could make the squad along with junior Brandon Fitzmiller, sophomore Chris Pike and freshman Andy Kohl.

"We still haven't figured out who will be on the team," said Cook, who's coming off another successful season coaching girls basketball. "We're still in the process of making cuts."

Jackson has another week to prepare for its season-opener March 30 against Notre Dame and Cape Central.

TENNIS

Cape Central

The Cape Central boys tennis team will be rebuilding with the graduation of Wade Russell, its top player the last three years.

"We're looking to have a winning season, but its definitely a rebuilding year," said Central coach Bud Craven. "We've only got one senior and we're going to be young."

Central's lone senior is 6-foot-4 Aaron Moore. Either Moore or junior Ben Roeger will compete as the Tigers' No. 1 player.

"Aaron's greatly improved from last year and he's so tall," Craven said. "He played on a Sunday League and that helped him a lot."

Roeger leads a cast of six juniors that will likely fill several of the Tigers' top six positions. Drew Seib, Andrew Skinner and Nathan Skinner will be looked to as starters. Classmates Alex Edwards, Sam Fletcher and Andy Ostrenga will also be looked at during the season.

Of the underclassmen, sophomores Sean Maguire and Mick Metzger have impressed in early practices along with freshmen Paul Miller and Calvin Maginel.

"Several of our younger players have a lot of potential," Craven said. "One or two may break into the starting rotation."

Other sophomores are: Andrew Christensen, Morgan Maki, Ed Roeger and Warren Williams. Freshman players in the mix are: Matt Dodd, Shawn Pincksten and Jeff Prost.

Central opens at De Soto on Monday.