Westlake and North Olmsted face off
in early season showdown
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published April 5, 2006

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Local tennis fans will get an early season treat when Westlake opens conference play at North Olmsted tomorrow. The two schools along with Avon Lake enter the SWC boys tennis season as the favorites.

North Olmsted returns its entire line-up from a year ago. Kevin Bus, Brad Sinko and Alex Kearney return to the singles spots while the teams of Joe Roeder/Alex Yoskovich and Ben Stumpf/John Park are also back intact. That overall team experience has led to a different kind of preparation for 25-year veteran coach Harvey Schrager.

“It allows us to just work on skills,” Schrager said. “This is the first time I have not had to have try-outs. We don't have to pound on each other and there is no pressure to win a spot. The challenge is we have to stay on top of our expectations and achieve our potential.”

Having veterans, Schrager wanted to be sure his team was ready for conference. So he brought some of the “big boys” to his early season schedule. The Eagles opened with a 3-2 loss to St. Ignatius and play St. Edward tonight before opening SWC play.

“I wanted a good hard independent schedule,” he said. “We started with St. Ignatius and then tonight we play St. Edward, who I think is even stronger than St. Ignatius. I wanted the kids tested early. We lost some close sets to Ignatius. We played a man down with Alex Yoskovich out of the line-up, so we had to juggle the line-up some. But I thought we competed well and got some good work in.”

Sinko, the team’s captain, agrees with his coach’s philosophy.

“We lost to St. Ignatius, but we played well.” Sinko said. “It showed we can have a good season. It is better than going out and beating teams 5-0. It is good competition and provides good experience so we are ready when we play teams like Westlake.”

Sinko also agrees the team’s experience has prepared it to make a run at the SWC title.

“We all know each other pretty well after playing together for a few years,” Sinko said. “Winning conference is our goal and we believe we have a good chance at it.”

While North Olmsted is building off of last season and ready to go, Westlake has a different vibe and that is a good thing according to junior ace Brad Noel.

Noel, who led Westlake to the SWC title as freshman in 2004, swept his way to SWC first singles titles his first two seasons and qualified for the state tournament each year. He likes the tougher approach coach Ralph Dunbar is taking with the team.

“We have started off closer than we have the last two seasons,” Noel said. “Ralph has set some boundaries with this team which is good for all of us. Someone was late to practice two days in a row last week. The first day that player ran, the second day we all ran. On the third day, we all made sure everyone was on time. We are having more team dinners and spending more time together. This could be the best team I have been on.”

Westlake opened the season with a 5-0 win over Lakewood and 3-2 loss to Strongsville. Dunbar likes what he sees out of his team early.

"Our first doubles team of seniors Mike Gottfried and Dan Skoglund is intact and looking strong,” he said. “We have a new second doubles team of Ryan Silver and Samer Shakir and they are playing well. So far I am pleased with the guys attitudes and their play and each match I am seeing improvement in their play and mental outlook on the court."

Dunbar likes opening conference play against North Olmsted. He likes to know where his team stands early.

“I think it is always good to play against a strong team in the beginning of the season, it sets the standards for the rest of the season,” he said. “Last year when we played North Olmsted away we lost 1-4. We definitely are looking to improve that this match.”

Because Westlake has Noel, it puts added pressure on North Olmsted’s other four courts.

“It does puts pressure on the other four courts,” Sinko said. “Brad is a terrific player and we know we have to win three of the other four courts. It doesn't leave much room for error, but we are confident.”

His coach agrees.

“You know going in that they will have a point and we then have to win three of the four other courts,” Schrager said. “Westlake is very solid. Ralph Dunbar has a good team. The other four courts are all toss-ups and could go either way. Westlake has an experienced first doubles team, but are not as experienced in second and third singles and second doubles. I am hoping our experience will carry us.

 We will just go in and see what happens. It should be very competitive.”

Dunbar agrees that there will be a lot of good, competitive tennis on display.

“I think the whole match will be good to watch because I believe it could go either way which makes it exciting,” Dunbar said. “Win or lose if my guys give 110 percent, that’s what matters “

And that outlook has his star player excited.

“Ralph told us, he will not be upset if we lose if we leave every thing on the court,” Noel said. “It has been a good start to the season. I like what Ralph is initiating for me and for the team.”