The Colonial Division of the Mid-Penn Conference will sport a different look this spring, as both defending champ Palmyra and Susquehanna Twp. got the boot up to the Keystone Division. That opens the door for a loaded Camp Hill squad to finally grab the team title in the division.
The Camp Hill Lions, featuring defending Mid-Penn AA singles champion and district qualifier Paxton Fitzpatrick, will get a team boost this spring with the departure of Palmyra to the Keystone Division. The unbeaten (8-0) Cougars nipped the Lions (7-1) for the Colonial crown a year ago.
Coach Greg Herb has Fitzpatrick, a sophomore, returning to the lineup, as well as No. 2 Patrick Yang, a junior-eligible returnee who has skipped a grade and will graduate this spring, a year early. Troy Getty holds down the third spot.
Camp Hill's biggest challenge in the division might come from James Buchanan. The Rockets are a senior-laden squad coming off a solid season a year ago. Coach Terri Beegle has everyone back and all are seniors. Grant Strawoet, a district qualifier in singles and doubles last season returns as No. 1. Garrett Malanka, Strawoet's doubles partner in the postseason, holds down the second spot, with Andrew Rupert doing the same at third singles. The Rockets have yet to drop a match in two contests played as of Tuesday.
Bishop McDevitt has a new coach Christina Lacey, but is still playing at the HACC courts while the team awaits completion of on-campus courts at the new McD. The Crusaders return senior and PIAA qualifier Matthew Fulponi at top singles. Steven Lacey played doubles a year ago, but has moved to No. 2 singles this spring. Alex Metro, another doubles player last year, will be slotted in the No. 3 slot. The doubles teams will originate from a combo of Tom Wu, Chris Mixon, Nick Longson and Andy Tran.
Tony Cooper -- girls' coach in the fall -- takes over the boys' squad at Trinity. Cooper has senior Mark Moore at top singles, while sophomore George Herbst slides into the two-hole after playing doubles in 2012. Emory Gustall, a junior, will be at third singles. Louis Guyer and Chase Ketterman, both seniors, will be the Shamrocks' top doubles tandem. Trinity has had three early postponements due to weather (surprise), but did manage to get a match in last week, a 5-0 loss to Camp Hill.
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A dozen or so years ago, East Pennsboro's Pat Forsburg had 29 players in the pipeline. Starting this season last week, the longtime head coach had four, causing a court forfeiture in the Panthers' opener. There are players on the way, but promising sophomore Phil Alsher decided to go out for track this spring. Junior Erik Etter, a district qualifier in singles and a doubles silver medalist last spring, is back at No. 1. He's joined by senior Matt Price -- his doubles partner at districts -- at No. 2. Freshman Gabe Petrovic will play at third singles. The Panthers have plenty of talent, witness their six postseason medals among the squad last year. Now it's a matter of strengthening the numbers to the point of staying competitive on the team tennis side of the ledger.
Middletownhas most of its key players back from last season, as the Blue Raiders look to better last year's one-win campaign. Joe Harkins is coach Bill Fair's No. 1, followed by D.J. Brinton at second singles. Both reprise their roles from a season ago. Harry Kapenstein, a sophomore, moves up to third singles. Junior Alex Mosher and freshman Eric Elles will be the top doubles pairing.
The Susquenitaboys' program plays on-campus for the first time in three years, thanks to finally-renovated courts at the high school. Coach Alice Cook has junior Ryan Peterson at top singles, up a slot from a year ago, and senior Dalton Mabius at No. 2. Chance Swartz checks in a No. 3 singles. Maybe some home cookin' can get the Hawks, who were winless in 2012, off the schneid.
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