By Holli L. Rapp
Three players return for the men’s tennis team which includes last year’s number #1, #3, and #4, players. The three returners include Rob Vignali, who played all of last season at #1 singles, #3 player Dan Kotecki, who went 11-1 prior to the tournament and #4 seeded Chad Zielinski.
Four newcomers on the team are Mendota High grads Travis Klien and Nathan Tolley, L-P graduate Scott Grabowski, and 1996 Ottawa graduate Gary Windy.
Since only three practices had been held before press time, new tennis coach Bruce Nelson didn’t know how the team will be seeded.
Nelson, who resigned last spring from the women’s tennis coach position said that he only was a temporary coach, because no one else was willing to take the position after Robert Mueller resigned from the position after last spring’s season.
"All players have played at high school," said Nelson, about his team’s strengths
While the baseball team is experiencing problems with where they will be playing, the tennis team has had no problem.
"It’s cold," Nelson said. "Standing out with a racket, it is pretty cold."
Harper and College of DuPage stand out in the head coach’s mind about who will be tops in the N4C.
Last year’s team, which only had one sophomore on it had a 7-5 overall and 0-4 record in conference.
According to Vignali, "I think we are deeper this year with talent than last. I think we have a pretty good chance to make it to the nationals this year, but we have only practiced a week."
Vignali finished last season at 8-4 and Zielinski finshed 8-4.
The Apaches open the season at Eureka on March 22, and then are home for two matches against Oakton on April 1, and against Waubonsee on April 3.
March 15, 1999 the Apache