Whitesell injury opens tennis field J J tft'lf /f9
BY KEN ROBINSON r Enquirer Contributor
An injury that will sideline tennis star Phil Whitesell for at least a month has not only shuffled Walnut Hills' lineup, but the standing of
Prep scene the city's top singles' players as well. Whitesell, the Eagles' number one player since his sophomore season, is suffering from severely inflamed knees, possibly stress fractures. Last week he was forced to withdraw from a match against Centerville's John Amos, down, 6-7, 1-3. Coach Rick Naberhaus, who must restructure his team in Whitesell's absence, is hoping to have Whitesell back in the lineup for the May 10 match against perennial rival St. Xavier. Naberhaus hopes that will allow the 1988 Class AAA state qualifier sufficient tune-up time for the post-season. "If P.hil's back by the week of May 10 he can go into the sectionals having played some matches," Naberhaus said. "The sectionals are not as demanding and would be a good warm up. Then he'd have another week before the districts." Whitesell, third in the state meet last season, is more reserved in optimism. "Realistically, if I haven't been playing I'm not going to beat one of those guys in my district like (Curt) Joeslin (Dayton Northmont) or (Scott) Cuppet (Dayton Stebbins)." With Whitesell scratched from the Sycamore Invitational Tournament April 28-29, as many as five players could contend for Cincinnati's most prestigious regular season singles title. Whitesell won the SIT last season without surrendering a single set. : The top four seeds, in all likelihood, will go to 1988 runner-up Scott Stern of Country Day, Anderson's Rey Puentes, Sycamore's Jay Alder and St. Xavier's David Wolf. Stern, who has defeated Puentes, 7-6,6-4, already this season, is in line for top seeding. The Indians' senior captain placed fourth in the state Class AA-A tOurnament last year. "Phil being hurt makes Scott the favorite to be the player of the year," said CCD coach Jerry Howard. "I think going into this season Scott had a real good chance of beating Phil. Now we won't know." Elder's Eric Toth and the
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Phi! Whitesell, third at state last year, is out until at least May 10.
Bombers' J.R. Anderson (with Wolf) both qualified for state doubles in 1988 and could eliminate one ot the top four. "Wath Phil out certainly the tournament will be more interesting," Elder coach Mike Briede said. "If Phil's fiealthy, hands down he's the best player in the city." The Princeton Invitational, open to only AAA players this year, is scheduled for the following weekend, May 5-6.
Coaches poll 1. St. xavier (8)...¡................................................ 89
2. lndiarJ Hill ......................................................75 3. Cincinnati Country Day ................................ 70 4.
Waln~t
Hills (1 )................................................. 67
5. Sycamore ..................................................... 53 6. Elder ............................................................. 38 7. Oak Hills ................................... _................. 26 8. AndeJson ......................................................25 9. Seven Hills ................................................... 23 10. Moeller ..................................................... 12 Others: Turpin 5; Fairfield and Lakolo 4; Wyoming 3; Purcel Marion 1. AI coaches lll'e eligible to vot~. Clll Ria< N<!berhaus 8714830 or Russ King 683-9050 on Sunday> beftre 10 p.m.
Clousson retiring Bob Clousson is retiring after 10 years as the head varsity bas~ ketball coach at Glen Este High School. Clousson ends his coaching career that spans almost three decades with a record of 310-295. "I've been thinking about it (retiring) for three years, ever since my son graduated in '86," said Clousson. "Twenty-eight years is a long time to be coaching."
Oak Hills needs
~oacâ&#x20AC;˘es
Oak Hills is looking for a girls varsity basketball coach and a boys swimmiing coach. Interested applicants may call Art Deliconte at 922-2300 or send a resume to Oak Hills High School. -RODNEY HOFFMAN