CRETE-MONEE
Athletes to watch: Jeremy Horvath, Jr.; Carl Ikins, Sr.; Anderson Banks, Jr.
Outlook: Crete-Monee lost just two starters from last year's team, which was co-champion of the Southland Athletic Conference along with Kankakee. Horvath will assume the top singles slot for the third season in a row and attempt to improve upon his second-place finish in the 2010 conference tournament. Ikins and Banks will be a new pairing at No. 1 doubles this season.
Quote: "We are looking pretty good this season, but in a smaller league like ours, it is more about participation for us." -- coach Joe Horvath
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR
Athletes to watch: Bradley Holt, Jr.; Jack Schumann, Sr.; Kodie Hayes, Jr.
Outlook: After losing three regular-season conference matches last spring, H-F bounced back to win the SouthWest Suburban Blue tournament and a sectional title on its home court. The Vikings return six starters from that squad and, with good depth on the roster, should compete for a conference title again this season. Holt returns for his third season as the team's No. 1 singles player. Last year, he finished tied for 25th at state.
Quote: "I'm happy with the depth, but we lost our top four doubles players and you can't replace players like that easily. In league, there will be (four teams) where anybody can beat anybody." -- coach Michael Sacks
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN
Athletes to watch: Nick Blink, Sr., Adam Bergsma, Jr.
Outlook: Illiana Christian lost its top singles and doubles players from last year's team that went 13-4. Blink, who narrowly missed qualifying for state in doubles a season ago, takes over the No. 1 singles spot. Bergsma moves up from No. 3 singles to No. 2, while seniors Ryan Jongsma and Roshan Selladusai -- who were second in the Metro Suburban meet at No. 3 doubles -- become the Vikings' No. 2 doubles team this season.
Quote: "Our strength this year is our depth. There is not much of a gap between our No. 1 and No. 4 doubles teams, so hopefully, we will be able to get some points from our lower doubles teams this year." -- coach Rob Lagerwey.
MARIAN CATHOLIC
Athletes to watch: Julian Childers, Jr.; Mitch Zavesky, Sr.; Nate Bodnar, Sr.
Outlook: Marian took third at the Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional and 18th in state, due largely to the play of Childers, who finished 10th in singles play. Childers hopes to climb higher up the ladder this season, while the versatile Zavesky has won back-to-back sectional doubles titles. Five juniors make up the bulk of this year's team, which will try to duplicate the success of a 2010 squad that went 21-3 overall.
Quote: "I think we will move up and finish better than we did at state last year." -- coach Scott Bodnar
MOUNT CARMEL
Athlete to watch: Paul Crutchfield, Sr.
Outlook: The Caravan look to be competitive within the Catholic League with Crutchfield, who steps into the No. 1 singles slot after playing No. 3 singles last year. Coach Antonio Mota has split up Nicholas and Victor Sammond as a doubles team, and the brothers from Munster will now line up at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively, for the Caravan.
Quote: "We have a senior-heavy team that is looking to compete with every team in the Chicago Catholic League." -- Mota
THORNTON FRACTIONAL
Athletes to watch: Garardo Gomez, So.; Steve Patino, Sr.; Juan Hurtado, Sr.
Outlook: Thornton Fractional's combined team should improve upon last year's .500 mark. Gomez and senior Noe Navar should carry the load at singles, while coach Clinton Scott believes the No. 1 doubles team of Patino and Hurtado has the talent to qualify for state. Doubles play could prove the difference between victory and defeat for TF this season.
Quote: "We took fourth in the conference tournament last year, but I think we should be competitive in conference this season and improve on our overall record." -- Scott
THORNTON TWP.
Athlete to watch: Tyler Carter, Sr.
Outlook: The turnout was lower than what coach Tom Walsh was looking for in his second season at the helm. Carter is the only returning starter from last year's team. There is hope on the horizon for Thornton Twp.'s rebuilding effort, however, as Walsh said 16 players have come out for the sport at the freshman-sophomore level.
Quote: "This is great that we have all of these new players who have come out and have a passion for the game." -- Walsh
-- Compiled by Vince Vosti
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