Newton Citizen

For the second straight season, Heritage dominated the local high school tennis scene.

So it should come as no surprise that the Patriot squads are well represented on the Citizen's 2008 All-Area Tennis Team.

Heritage's Jonathan Stone repeats as the Citizen's Boys Tennis Player of the Year, while Heritage's Stephanie Humphries is the Girls Tennis Player of the Year.

Once again, Heritage boys coach Chuck Landy is the Citizen's Tennis Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to its second straight Region 8-AAAA championship and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the Class AAAA state tournament. The Patriots beefed up their nonregion scheduled and still managed an 18-6 record before falling to Marist in the state playoffs. Heritage posted a perfect 10-0 in 8-AAAA South play and breezed to three wins in the region tournament to claim the 8-AAAA title.

Boys

Jonathan Stone (Heritage): Stone posted a perfect 22-0 record while playing at No. 1 singles at Heritage for the second straight season. The junior was 12-0 against region competition and is now 41-3 in his career with the Patriots.

Zach Landy (Heritage): Landy didn't miss a beat after moving up to the No. 2 singles spot for Heritage in the spring. The sophomore posted a record of 18-6, including 13-0 in region play. He is now 34-7 in two seasons with the Patriots.

Kyle Jackson (Alcovy): Jackson, a senior, chalked up a record of 13-6 while playing No. 1 singles for the Tigers. His only local losses came against Stone.

Blake Craft/Brad Hardin (Heritage): This senior duo developed into one of the top No. 1 doubles teams in the state, compiling a 20-4 record, which included a perfect 13-0 mark in region play.

J.J. Ramsey/Jacob Zirbel (Heritage): Ramsey and Zirbel combined to give Heritage a formidable doubles lineup from their No. 2 spot. The senior duo registered a 20-4 record and also went a perfect 13-0 against 8-AAAA competition.

Girls

Stephanie Humphries (Heritage): Humphries, a junior, was Heritage's most improved player, according to coach Brian Smith. She recorded a perfect mark of 11-0 in region play while playing at No. 2 singles for the Lady Patriots.

Taylor Maloney (Heritage): Maloney had a strong season, taking on a new role at No. 1 singles for Heritage. The sophomore suffered only three losses in the region.

Callie Alford (Heritage): Alford, a freshman, made a big splash playing at No. 3 singles in her first season with the Lady Patriots. She finished with a perfect 10-0 in Region 8-AAAA.

Kierstie Moon (Newton): Moon, who played at No. 1 singles, was a key factor in the Lady Rams' run the Sweet 16 in Class AAAAA.

Qeiarra Johnson (Eastside): Johnson registered a 10-5 record, including an 8-4 mark in region action, while playing singles for the Lady Eagles.

Chelsea Reagan (Salem): Reagan, a senior, produced an 11-2 record (8-2 in Region 8-AAAA South) for the Lady Seminoles while playing at No. 1 singles. Her only two losses came against Heritage.

Christine Harper/Liz Forrester (Heritage): Harper, a senior, combined with Forrester, a freshman, to give the Lady Patriots a strong combination at No. 1 doubles. The duo was 10-0 in subregion play.

Keeli Smith/Amanda Voyles (Heritage): This freshman duo provided the Lady Patriots with a stout No. 2 doubles squad. Smith and Voyles also recorded a perfect 10-0 record in subregion matches.

Kerrie Grunnet/Randi Estes (Salem): Grunnet and Estes were a strong combination at No. 2 doubles for the Lady Seminoles. The junior duo posted an overall record of 11-2, including an 8-2 record in subregion competition.

Jeff Gillespie can be reached at jeff.gillespie@rockdalecitizen.com.

SideBar: All-Area Tennis Team

Boys Player of the Year: Jonathan Stone, Heritage

Girls Player of the Year: Stephanie Humphries, Heritage

Coach of the Year: Chuck Landy, Heritage

Boys First Team

Singles: Jonathan Stone, Heritage

Singles: Zach Landy, Heritage

Singles: Kyle Jackson, Alcovy

Doubles: Blake Craft, Heritage

Doubles: Brad Hardin

Doubles: J.J. Ramsey, Heritage

Doubles: Jacob Zirbel, Heritage

Girls First Team

Singles: Stephanie Humphries, Heritage

Singles: Taylor Maloney, Heritage

Singles: Callie Alford, Heritage

Singles: Kierstie Moon, Newton

Singles: Qiearra Johnson, Eastside

Singles: Chelsea Reagan, Salem

Doubles: Christine Harper, Heritage

Doubles: Liz Forrester, Heritage

Doubles: Keeli Smith, Heritage

Doubles: Amanda Voyles, Heritage

Doubles: Kerrie Grunnet, Salem

Doubles: Randi Estes, Salem

Honorable Mention

Alcovy

Sherry Hall

Brandon Tisdale

Eastside

Hailey Jones

Josh Miller

Sierra Petree

Jake Rienstra

Newton

Stephanie Cronan

Mark DeAlva

Tyler Gose

Erinn Lewis-Faupel

Rhiannon Long

Courtney Regan

Holly Springer

Rockdale

Pathya Kunthy

Steven Rouk

Andrew Stover

Salem

Bo Bateman

Logan Gunzenhauser

Blake Hullett

Robby Williams

Cecily Wilson