Hounds go after another district title

After making a surprising run to a second straight district title last spring, Maryville's boys tennis team has its sights set on a three-peat this year.

One potential hold-up is the absence of last year's two best players, Tyler Walter and Eric Bostwick, both of which graduated.

Walter and Bostwick won the district doubles title and fell a match short of getting to state.

Walter was a state tournament qualifier twice before in his career and played on Maryville's varsity all four years. Bostwick played No. 3 singles or higher each of the last two years. Last year, he was No. 2 behind Walter.

Maryville at least has the rest of its top six back from last year. After being in the 3-6 slots, returners Ben Geocken, Ian Macali, Boston Schneider and Chris Dougan all figure to be playing a notch or two higher.

Schneider is a senior, while Geocken, Dougan and Macali are juniors.

All were first-year varsity players last year and improved throughout the season, enabling Maryville to knock off the top two seeds, Savannah and Lafayette, in district tournament play and finish with a 12-8 record.

The remaining two spots in Maryville's lineup will be filled by sub-varsity players from a year ago.

Maryville is scheduled to begin its season at Savannah today, although that dual could be postponed by weather.

The Hounds next competition date is a week later at Lafayette.

They play their first four duals on the road and their next four at home.

Their two regular season tournaments are Apr. 24 at Benton and the MEC Meet May 3. Districts are May 6-10 at Cameron.