On to Sectionals 5.0 and 3.0 Preview--The Big Boys and The Small Guys

In 5.0, there is never a wildcard but I was hopeful.  Dallas has some great 5.0 teams this year.  Perkison's Village People are in a 5 team Round Robin to compete for a chance to make it to Nationals.  As usual, this is some good quality tennis.


5.0
The teams with us are San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Fort Worth.  With only 5 cities fielding leagues in a section as big as Texas, you would think the USTA would understand our fear and loathing of going to 5.0.

Dallas:  We already know the Village has Loren Collins.  He is formidable against anyone.  Johann Jooste is another very formidable player but a little rusty from his Baylor playing days.  Still, if he is practicing some, that is a mighty pair that is hard to get by.  Tyler Jiminez is pretty strong too.  Should be fun and good luck

San Antonio is anchored by Juan Carlos Moreiras.  I can't say I know him but he is a Self Rated 5.5 and if that not a great tennis player name, I don't know what is. 

Austin is always tough at 5.0 and above.  It helps to have a VERY LARGE flagship university in your town.  Universities of this size Club Teams and Greek System can field a competitive D-I roster.  The have Eric Cohn as their 5.5.  I think he played for SMU some years back.  At least Juan DeKruyff isn't on this roster to torment us again.

Houston has no 5.5 on the roster.  I see Craig Bobo is on the roster but he is getting older.  I can't say I know much about this team from a quick look.  The did beat Freeman's Hurricanes team who finished second.

Fort Worth (aka West Dallas) comes out of River Crest. They have Jon Stitt and Rafael Omana.  They also have Tristan Stitt but he is playing for the real Dallas 4.5 team.  I see Jack Seider on the roster as a 5.5 and if memory serves me, I think he is a former TCU player.  They have another 5.5 of Zach Nichols.  He too may have played for TCU.  This may be a sleeper team.

This level is so hard to pick.  There are only three lines and everyone is really good.  A bad day by a player and only three lines creates upsets.  I am going with a homer pick of Dallas.  I am not certain in the slightest.

3.0 is a 6 Team Round Robin.  The participants are High Point/Bender with Austin, NETX, Fort Worth, San Antonio and SETX.  Analysis is extremely tough on 3.0.  First, I know extremely little.  The players have very little history.

Dallas with Bob Bender has won a number of these titles.  He has 13 players on his roster and the only name I have ever seen is Robert Bender.  I am still confident he will do well.

Austin They were 6-2 in their flight to win it.  While that may not mean anything, it may mean it is an entire flight of beginners.

NETX comes from a two team flight.  Once again, it is difficult to tell anything.  I don't know a name and with only two teams, I get skeptical if the matches were ever played.

SETX can be a mirror of NETX.  2 Teams without a known name.  They were 8-1 in their flight over the other team and didn't even play one of their matches.  One has to think they would hold them off in that last match.

Fort Worth has another 2 team flight.  If you read either NETX or SETX, you already know more or less what I am going to say.  It is easier to just look up at those.

San Antonio has a huge flight and a playoff.  A team out of Sonterra emerged.  Sonterra usuallyhas good teams so this could be a tough match.  I suspect it will be between Dallas and San Antonio.

In the end, I am going with the homer pick again.  Also, I am going with a captain that has been there before.  Best of luck to both of you.

I started with these two because there is a lot less to preview.  I will be putting something together for the other levels later this week.