Through eight presidencies, two NFL franchises and 13 managerial changes by the Baltimore Orioles, the Pikesville High boys tennis team has remained the team to beat in Baltimore County.
Despite relying on a number of freshmen, the Panthers won their 39th county title in 41 years in 2006 and are expecting to be in the mix for another championship this spring.
Sophomores Paul Burgin and Lolita Kachay anchor the Panthers? lineup, having won individual titles at the county and regional levels as freshmen.
Coach Jerry Dressner is also high on the boys doubles combination of Justin Lui and Andre Lutz, who won the county and regional tournaments before placing third at states.
Pikesville finished last season winning seven of nine divisions on the county level and four of five at regionals.
Dressner said he expects his top competition in the county to come from Towson and Dulaney. But he added that it will be difficult to win at the state level, where the Panthers likely will face many of the top teams from Montgomery County.
“We have kids come along every four years who know about the tradition, but it doesn?t affect them,” Dressner said. “The other teams are also aware of it, which makes them want to beat us even more.”
» In Anne Arundel County, Broadneck is the defending county champion, but the Bruins should receive a challenge from teams like Old Mill, Arundel and Severna Park.
» In Baltimore City, Western is coming off a perfect 11-0 regular season and finished behind Poly in the city tournament. The Doves accomplished this with an all-female team despite playing in co-ed matches.
» In Harford County, Bel Air and C. Milton Wright are the teams to beat. Bel Air finished last season with a 14-1 record and snapped C. Milton Wright?s 84-match winning streak last year.
» In Howard County, Centennial went 17-1 last season but lost to River Hill in the county championships. The player everyone in the county should watch is Wilde Lake?s David Nguyen, who went 21-0 and won county, regional and state titles as a sophomore in 2006.
» In Carroll County, Liberty and Francis Scott Key come into the season as the top teams. Francis Scott Key won on the boys side outright and tied with Liberty on the girls side.
» Among area private schools, Gilman should be the top boys team after winning the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title last year. Senior Ted Kelly leads the squad after going undefeated and winning an individual title. Severn is going after its fourth B Conference title in six years.
