NORTH DIVISION

Favorite – Kentridge.

Contenders – Jefferson, Kentwood.

Sleepers – Auburn, Auburn Riverside.

Outlook – Kentridge returns three of the five players who went to state last spring: Matt Overland in singles (third place), and the doubles team of Paul Yi and Vineeth Omkaram (did not place). Overland is regarded as the second-best player in the division behind two-time defending state champion Max Manthou of Kentwood, and is one of those who can actually slug it out with him groundstroke for groundstroke, though Manthou ultimately shows why he’s a cut above the rest. Like Kentridge, Jefferson returns most of its roster, including district qualifiers Joe Lee and Branden Muraki, both juniors, and sophomore Makoa Rosa, who was the only freshman boy from the SPSL to make the district draw. He will be joined this year by his freshman brother, Kainoa. Kentwood is always in the mix, and the Conquerors typically can count on a point from Manthou before they even take the court. Auburn Riverside, which won the SPSL North title in 2005 before leaving for a two-year stint in Class 3A, graduated most of the familiar names that teamed up for an SPSL 3A title in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2007. But the Ravens have a strong JV program, and many of the top players there are ready to slide into varsity positions and keep AR competitive.

Notable – Auburn’s Travis Hanley and Josh Jeter qualified for the Class 3A state tournament in doubles last spring. Hanley and Jeter prevailed in a winner-to-state, loser-out match for the seventh and final qualifying spot out of West Central District. They came up short in both of their state matches.

3A

Favorite – Pick ’em.

Contenders – Auburn Mountainview, Peninsula.

Sleepers – White River, Sumner.

Outlook – Auburn Mountainview is in position to win the school’s first-ever tennis championship. With Nick Allen (second in the league singles tournament last fall) and Paul Harris (fourth in singles), plus three other senior veterans in the fold, the Lions appear to have the tools they need. Defending champion Sumner got hit hard by graduation, losing league tournament singles champion Drew Monroe and third-place doubles finishers Ethan Ramberg and Ben Masters. Regular-season runner-up Auburn Riverside has rejoined 4A and the SPSL North Division. Peninsula has state singles runner-up Lance Wilhelm in the fold. And White River, despite winning just one match last year, returns virtually its entire roster with an additional year of experience.