When boys tennis coaches Rod Hamman of Tippecanoe Valley and Eric Christiansen of Manchester answered the question, they could have given a simple answer.

The question: Who are the key returners to this year's team?

For Hamman and Christiansen, whose teams each lost two players from last year's teams, the answer could easily have been, "We return everyone."

And for these two Three Rivers Conference teams, that is pretty much the case.

"Most of our guys have experience, and that goes a long way," Hamman, in his 16th year with the Vikings, said. "They tasted some success last year."

A year ago Valley posted its best record in school history at 12-4, while finishing second in the TRC behind Manchester.

Returning for the Vikings are singles players Drew Shafer, Phil Jackson, Luke Shambaugh and doubles players Brian Love, Andy Martin, Zach Shambaugh and Scott Kindig.

In their regular season match last year, Manchester topped Valley 5-0. In the TRC tournament, the Squires took first in four of the five slots. Valley took the other. Hamman says Manchester is the team to look out for this year as well.

"Manchester is still the team to beat in our conference," Hamman said. "Warsaw is still the team to beat in the sectional. Those are two of our top goals."

Does Hamman think the Vikings can knock off the Squires and Tigers and take conference and sectional championships?

"If we play to our potential, I think we have a decent chance," Hamman said. "It's a little early to tell. We have set our goals high."

The Vikings opened their season Tuesday by losing to Bremen 4-1.

Manchester, who finished last season at 12-3, is without Matt Purdy and Michael Good from last year's team. The returning list for the Squires reads Pieter Naragon, Bart King, Nathan Bucher, Jeff Sincroft, Sam Olsen and Tyler Kelsey.

Like Hamman, Christiansen believes his team can take home the 2000 conference crown.

"We have the talent to do it," Christiansen said. "But Tippecanoe Valley will be strong they, only lost player. They'll be aiming for us, but we'll be ready."

Manchester opens its season Thursday by hosting Maconaquah. The two TRC powerhouses will clash Sept. 21 at Valley.

Whitko, also a TRC school, returns Shawn Dorgan, Greg Neher, Jared Jagger and Kory Mettler from last year's 0-14 team.

In the Northern Lakes Conference, seventh-year Warsaw coach Andy Lewis is dealing with the loss of last year's key players.

Gone from an 11-4 regional runners-up team are Dan Benyousky, Eric Keller, Steve Slaughter, Eric Grossnickle, Matt Krizmanich and David Honneffer.

Returning for the Tigers are Brad Simmons, Ryan Dill and Travis Yoder.

"Our strength will be youth," Lewis said. "We've got some young players that I think will do well. We graduated eight seniors, our weakness is going to be experience."

Warsaw begins its 2000 campaign by hosting Elkhart Central Aug. 23 and Mishawaka Marian Aug. 24.

Wawasee, who went 4-10 overall and 0-6 in the NLC a year ago, only graduated two netters - Carter Ploszek and Kyle Farrell.

Returning for the Warriors are Scott Beasley, Mickey Ashpole, Logan Pilcher, Evan Gerard, Josh Abrams, Robbie Trame and Seth Beer.

"We return six letter winners," Warrior coach Phil Mishler said. "We're still young, but at least they have one year experience. We should improve each match."

Trame and Beer are the only seniors in Wawasee's lineup. The Warriors open their season Aug. 24 by hosting West Noble.

MANCHESTER

Coach/years: Eric Christiansen/fourth

1999 record: 12-3/3-0 TRC (conference champs)

Key losses: Matt Purdy, Michael Good

Key returners: Pieter Naragon, Bart King, Nathan Bucher, Jeff Sincroft, Sam Olsen, Tyler Kelsey

First match: Aug. 17 host Maconaquah

Christiansen: "We have the talent to do it (win TRC), but Tippecanoe Valley will be strong, they only lost one player. They'll be aiming for us, but we'll be ready."

NORTHWOOD

Coach/years: Angie Swain/16th

1999 record: 6-9/3-3 NLC

Key losses: Walt Sales, Chet Walters, Matt Sitek

Key returners: Eric Reynolds, Nick Abel, Sean Clem, Keith Fishburn

First match: Aug. 19 at DeKalb Invitational

Swain: "Our weakness is that we lost our No. 2 singles and one of our No. 2 doubles players, they're gonna be hard to fill in for. We'll be pretty solid though with the players we have returning. I hope these guys can step up and be leaders."

TIPPECANOE VALLEY

Coach/years: Rod Hamman/16th

1999 record: 12-4/2-1 TRC

Key losses: Jeremy Shambaugh, Kyle Robinson

Key returners: Drew Shafer, Phil Jackson, Luke Shambaugh, Brian Love, Andy Martin, Zach Shambaugh, Scott Kindig

First match: lost to Bremen 4-1 on Tuesday

Hamman: "Most of our guys have experience, I think that goes a long way. They tasted some success last year.###########"

TRITON

Coach/years: Janet Beam/third

1999 record: 9-6/3-3 NSC

Key losses: Art Blackmer

Key returners: Kent Roberts, Bryan Wilcox, Seth Bowers, Matt Craft, Aaron Shafer, Matt Yankovich, Shawn Cretcher, Josh Nifong

First match: Aug. 22 host Mishawaka

Beam: "Our strength is that they're go-getters. They work hard and have a desire to win. They've come a long way since last year. Seth, Bryan and Kent were the only ones who had really played tennis. We didn't have a lot of court time, but we're on our way now. Our big weakness is that we lost our No. 1 singles player Art Blackmer. Seth or Bryan can step in, but it's a big spot to fill."

WARSAW

Coach/years: Andy Lewis/seventh

1999 record: 11-4/4-2 NLC

Key losses: Dan Benyousky, Eric Keller, Steve Slaughter, Eric Grossnickle, Matt Krizmanich, David Honneffer

Key returners: Brad Simmons, Ryan Dill, Travis Yoder

First match: Aug. 23 host Elkhart Central

Lewis: "With all the seniors we graduated, I don't think anybody expects us to rise to the occasion. We have a freshman at No. 3 singles and our No. 1 singles player is coming back from a shoulder injury."

WAWASEE

Coach/years: Phil Mishler/sixth

1999 record: 4-10/0-6 NLC

Key losses: Carter Ploszek, Kyle Farrell

Key returners: Scott Beasley, Mickey Ashpole, Logan Pilcher, Evan Gerard, Josh Abrams, Robbie Trame, Seth Beer

First match: Aug. 24 host West Noble

Mishler: "We return six letter winners. We're still young, but at least they have one year experience. We should improve each match."

WHITKO

Coach/years: Larry Schuh

1999 record: 0-14

Key losses: none

Key returners: Shawn Dorgan, Greg Neher, Jared Jagger, Kory Mettler

First match: Aug. 17 at Fort Wayne South

Schult: "(Our goal) is to win at least one more game than we did last year. My first year we only had nine on the squad. I'm looking at developing the program, maybe three or four years down the road. We have five freshmen this year, that's the most Whitko has had in a while. I have the future in mind." [[In-content Ad]]