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By JAMIE PIERCE Times Leader Correspondent
Wednesday, May 10, 2000     Page: 3C

Winning is something the Wyoming Seminary tennis team knows a thing or two
about.
   
The Blue Knights have not lost a Northeast Pennsylvania Tennis Conference
match since 1994. And before that, 1988 was the last time they were beaten.
    Nothing has changed in 2000. Seminary has shown experience, youth, team
chemistry and a whole lot of talent during its 12-0 run this season.
   
“Wyoming Seminary is traditionally a tennis school,” coach Charles Lull
said. “What can I tell you? It just seems to me that we have had a strong
program for a number of years – one I am very proud of.”
   
Heading into the district singles tomorrow and Friday, numerous Blue Knight
players will contend for district medals. The doubles tournament is May 18-19.
Both tournaments begin at 8 a.m. at Kirby Park.
   
It all begins with junior Buddy Shah. As a sophomore last season, Shah was
the District 2 Class 2A runner-up in singles.
   
Junior Madhan Srinivasan is Seminary’s No. 2 singles player. Srinivasan,
paired with Shah, finished second in the district doubles tournament a year
ago. Two freshmen – Jordan Koslosky and Tyler Morris – usually round out
Seminary’s singles matches. All four athletes are undefeated so far this
season.
   
“We have some boys that have experience and who also played well in
districts last year,” Lull added. “And we have a lot of youth. That is a
great mix.”
   
The youth Lull speaks of goes deep. Not one of the top 12 players at
Seminary is a senior. The group consists of six freshmen, four sophomores and
two juniors.
   
“They are a factory for tennis, and they have been for a long, long
time,” Hazleton Area coach Bob Stevens said. “They are not where they are
because of one or two outstanding players. They draw from a huge pool of great
players. They are in a league of their own.”
   
Unfortunately for Stevens, the Blue Knights are probably the only thing
standing between the Cougars and an NEPTC South Division championship this
season. Hazleton’s only loss this year was a 5-2 defeat to Seminary.
   
The Cougars also have no seniors on their squad. After losing its top three
seniors from last year, Hazleton’s team is composed of four juniors and all
sophomores.
   
Jon Yurkovich is Hazleton’s top gun. Yurkovich made tremendous progress in
the off-season and has done an outstanding job stepping into the No. 1 singles
spot, Stevens said.
   
Junior John Stevens is also enjoying a successful season for the Cougars.
The only singles loss Stevens suffered this year was to Srinivasan. He and
Yurkovich are undefeated as Hazleton’s top doubles team.
   
Junior John Domonick has lost only one singles match all season and junior
Jesse Zanolini and sophomore Rob Mummey have also combined for just one loss,
to Seminary, as the No. 2 doubles team.
   
“We have some real gutsy players,” Stevens said. “They run down balls
and never give up. As a coach, you can’t ask for much more.”