CENTRAL NETTERS PUSH FOR STATE

Cape Girardeau Central High's boys tennis team has already had a sensational season and an impressive two-year run.

Today, the Tigers hope things will get even better as they shoot for their second consecutive Class 4A, District 1 championship. The 11-team tournament will begin at 9 a.m. at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis.

The top two squads in the district advance to sectional competition May 19, with the district champion hosting that four-team sectional meet.

In addition, the top two finishers in singles and doubles today qualify for the state tournament May 25-26 in Springfield, Mo.

The Tigers went 16-0 in dual matches this year for the program's first undefeated record since 1979. And last year's district title was the program's first in at least 15 years.

"It's been a great season so far and hopefully we can keep it going (today)," said Central coach Bud Craven. "I've had a fantastic group of athletes to work with this year.

"Two (district titles) in a row would be something, especially since it had been such a long time around here."

Unlike dual matches, where teams have six singles players who then are allowed to also comprise the three doubles teams, the district format allows for two singles and two doubles entries consisting of different players. Every doubles victory is worth 2 1/2 points while every singles win is worth two points.

In an attempt to try and get four players through to the state meet and to build as many team points as possible Craven has decided to use his top four performers during the season on his two doubles teams.

The No. 1 doubles team for today's meet will consist of Trevor Blattner and Andy Tansil while the No. 2 squad will feature Eric Daume and Andrew Eaton. All four are juniors. Blattner teamed with Mick Metzger (who graduated) to place eighth in the state a year ago.

Blattner and Tansil are 11-1 in doubles play this season, the lone loss being to Poplar Bluff's Kandarp Bhatt and Josh Riggs. Daume and Eaton are 9-3.

Not surprisingly, Bhatt and Riggs are seeded first for the district, with Blattner and Tansil second. Daume and Eaton are seeded fourth.

"Poplar Bluff's team is very strong, but we've played them very close," Craven said. "We'll have to play really well, but hopefully we can get both (doubles) teams through to state."

In singles, the Tigers will play freshman James Russell and senior Paul Miller, who both fought through plenty of adversity to get to the district meet.

According to Craven, Russell began the season at about No. 14 on the team's singles list but worked his way up to No. 5, where he compiled an 11-1 record. Miller missed most of the year with a ruptured disc and he's only been back for the last four matches, all of them victories.

"James really improved and Paul worked very hard to come back," said Craven. "They're both unseeded, but hopefully they can win a few matches."

Craven believes St. Louis University High and Poplar Bluff will be among Central's primary challengers in the team competition.

Other squads in the field are Farmington, Gateway, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Oakville, Roosevelt, Vianney and Webster Groves.

"It won't be easy (to win the district), but it would be great to have the sectional at home," Craven said.