Warsaw boys tennis coach Andy Lewis expects to face a dilemma in September.

He played in a 10-0 mixed doubles league this summer, the most competitive mixed doubles league in the state. His partner was Sally Smithley, and even though he never had been paired with her before, they went undefeated.

The next step is Indianapolis, where Smithley and Lewis would compete against players from four other states -ÊWisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia - in September for the right to go to the nationals.

The dilemma? "I think (Warsaw) has a match then," Lewis said.

Lewis will decide what to do when the time comes.

Until then, he focuses on Warsaw tennis.

The story for Warsaw tennis the last five years has been this: good regular season, finish first or second in the Northern Lakes Conference, win sectional, lose at regional to Goshen.

Lewis is in his sixth year as Warsaw coach. The previous five years Warsaw has won the sectional. The Tigers have not won the regional any of those five years.

But Lewis sees a bright spot.

"The good news is Paul Algate, the Goshen coach, is the pro at the Warsaw Racquet Club," he said, "so he will be working with our players, too."

What Lewis has said about his team the previous five years could apply for 1999.

"I think we should be good," he said. "I say that every year, don't I? Having eight seniors, all guys who have been in the program for four years, this is the best group I will get for a while."

Lewis has his lineup set, save No. 2 doubles. Singles look like this: Dan Benyousky, No. 1 singles; Matt Krizmanich, No. 2 singles; and Steve Slaughter, No. 3 singles. Brad Simmons and Eric Grossnickle comprise the No. 1 doubles team. John Scott, Travis Yoder, David Honneffer, Ryan Dill and Eric Keller are competing for the two No. 2 doubles spots.

"We have a slew of kids to choose from," Lewis said. "They're making everybody fight for a position."

The guy Lewis is raving about is Benyousky.

Lewis, who is tearing up the mixed doubles league, lost to Benyousky this summer.

"I don't know if I'm getting old or what," Lewis said. "Dan's playing smart tennis. His approach has come a long way. He is even reaching and putting it away at the net. Most high school players reach at the net and pop it up."

But Benyousky is only one player in the lineup. Warsaw would need to win at two other places to win matches. Those two places are No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. Lewis figures Krizmanich and his doubles team of Simmons and Grossnickle have a good chance to win each time out.

The scouting report is the same. Goshen and Warsaw figure to clash for the conference title. Lewis sees no reason his team shouldn't win its sixth straight sectional.

Then comes regional.

"If we get by regional ... ," Lewis said. "But I say that every year, don't I?"

Manchester Squires

Coach -ÊEric Christiansen, third year

Last year's record -Ê10-5 (3-0 TRC)

1998 postseason -Êlost to Peru in sectional finals

Key losses -ÊNate Little, No. 1 singles; Mitch Eads, No. 1 doubles

1999 lineup -ÊMatt Purdy, No. 1 singles; Pieter Naragon, No. 2 singles; Mike Howard, No. 3 singles; Michael Good/Bart King, No. 1 doubles; Todd Shumaker/Jeff Sincroft, No. 2 doubles

First match -Êat Maconaquah 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19

Christiansen -Ê"At the beginning of our schedule, we have a lot of tough schools to start out with -ÊCarroll, Bishop Dwenger, Huntington North and Bluffton. Those are four of our first five. If we get through those first five at least 3-2, we should be in good shape. In the TRC, Tippecanoe Valley will be a strong team. They return a lot of good players."

NorthWood Panthers

Coach -ÊAngie Swain, 13th year

Last year's record -Ê4-11 (2-4 NLC)

1998 postseason -Êlost in first round of sectional

Key losses -ÊPeter Metz, No. 1 singles

1999 lineup - No lineup has been set. Walt Sale and Chet Walters will vie for the top two singles spots. Nick Abel and Sean Clem figure to be one of the doubles teams, while Matt Sitek and Eric Reynolds figure to be the other doubles team.

First match -Êat DeKalb Invitational 9 a.m. Aug. 21

Swain -Ê"We do have several letterwinners returning. We hope our experience pays off. In our conference, Goshen is strong, and Warsaw will probably be pretty strong. Those are the top two teams."

Triton Trojans

Coach - Janet Beam

Last year's record -Ê12-7 (NSC record N/A)

1998 postseason - lost in sectional finals

Key losses - Schuyler Stutzman, Adam Heckaman, Kevin Escapule, Justin Staublin

1999 lineup - Art Blackmer, No. 1 singles; 10 others are challenging for the six singles and doubles spots available. Top returners include Seth Bowers, Kent Roberts, Bryan Wilcox, Curt Mosier and Matt Craft.

First match - at Mishawaka 4:30 p.m. Aug. 24

Beam - "Hopefully we will have a winning season. Our goal is to be at the top of our game during sectional time. I think we have a chance to win sectional this year."

Tippecanoe Valley Vikings

Coach - Rod Hamman, 14th year

Last year's record -Ê4-7 (2-1 TRC)

1998 postseason -Êlost to Warsaw in sectional finals

Key losses - Bryce Gast, No. 1 doubles

1999 lineup - Drew Shafer, No. 1 singles; Jeremy Shambaugh, No. 2 singles; Luke Shambaugh, No. 3 singles; Andy Martin/Brian Love, No. 1 doubles; Philip Jackson/Kyle Robinson, No. 2 doubles

First match -Êat Bremen 4:30 p.m. today

Hamman - "I think the key word for us is improved. We have basically everybody back. We're looking to be above .500 this year. We have only one senior this year, Jeremy, so we should be set for the future."

Warsaw Tigers

Coach -ÊAndy Lewis, sixth year

Last year's record -Ê11-4 (5-1 NLC)

1998 postseason -Êlost to Goshen at regional

Key losses - Ryan VanPuffelen, No. 1 singles; Pete Hake, No. 3 singles; Owen Compton, No. 1 doubles

1999 lineup -ÊDan Benyousky, No. 1 singles; Matt Krizmanich, No. 2 singles; Steve Slaughter, No. 3 singles; Brad Simmons/Eric Grossnickle, No. 1 doubles; Five players -ÊJohn Scott, Travis Yoder, David Honneffer, Ryan Dill and Eric Keller - are vying for the two No. 2 doubles spots.

First match -Êat Elkhart Central 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25

Wawasee Warriors

Coach -ÊPhil Mishler, fifth year

Last year's record -Ê5-10 (1-5 NLC)

1998 postseason -Êlost to Warsaw in the first round of sectional

Key losses -ÊAndy Cole, No. 1 singles; Luke Baker, No. 1 doubles; Blake Knisely, No. 1 doubles

1999 lineup - No lineup has been set. Four players -ÊKyle Hollon, Mickey Ashpole, Kyle Farrell and Seth Beer - are competing for the three singles spots. Carter Ploszek, Logan Pilcher and Scott Beasley figure in the doubles spots. Evan Gerard and Josh Abrams could work their way into the varsity lineup.

First match -Êat West Noble 4:30 p.m. Aug. 26

Mishler -Ê"The NLC is always tough. No matter who has lost what, it doesn't matter, because of the great coaches in the conference. Our goals are to have our seniors step up as leaders and for our team to be mentally tough."

Whitko Wildcats

Coach - Larry Schuh, first year

Last year's record - 1-17 (0-3 TRC)

1998 postseason - lost in first round of sectional

Key losses - N/A

1999 lineup - No lineup has been set, and currently there aren't enough players to fill out the varsity roster. Players who will be on the varsity roster include Jared Jagger, Nathan Haywood, Shawn Dorgan, Greg Nehr and Phil Reed.

First match - at Columbia City 4:30 p.m. Aug. 23

Schuh - "I see this as a rebuilding year. Right now we're just looking to cultivate more talent." [[In-content Ad]]