University of Virginia Library

Prospects For Tennis:
Improvement Next Year

When five of the first six variety
tennis players return for fall
practice next year, they will find,
within their ranks, a first-year man
who stands as one of the top
junior players in Texas currently.
He is John Mertz, of St. Mark's
School in Dallas.

As a sixteen year old a year
ago, he was ranked 38th nationally,
seventh in the state of Texas.
This year he recorded impressive
wins in the National Junior In-
door beating Mike Madura and
Rick Murray, Jeff Podesta's summer
doubles partner, in straight
sets. His third round loss care
to Don Lutz, the eventual winner
of the tournament. Mertz and his
partner were runners-up in the
Cotton Bowl doubles.

Next Year's Prospects

With the addition of Mertz to
Coach Gordon Burris' tennis
team, Virginia will once again be
favored to go undefeated in state
competition.

Mike Eikenberry, returning
Captain, should be at his best in
his fourth year, and will be ready
to defend his number one singles
spot.

Jeff Podesta, the victim of seven
3-set losses this year, should profit
from his year's rough experiences
as well as a vigorous
summer's tennis, to defend his
number two spot.

Scheinman Most Improved

Andy Scheinman, most improved
player on this year's squad,
plans to challenge himself with a
strenuous summer tennis tour
which should help him realize
his true potential.

First-year man Bob Kain will
return in a position to challenge
for the number one spot. He too
plans to work hard at his tennis
over the summer.

This year's number six man,
first-year man Biff Cooper, will
return with a chance to rise in
the lineup. Like Scheinman,
Cooper plans to play in National
tournaments this summer to improve
himself. He has already established
himself as the team's
hardest worker, which should place
him in Burris' top five next year.

Improvements In '69

With the addition of a player of
Mertz' caliber to a young and
spirited club, the Varsity Tennis
team of 1969 should continue
where they left off this year-winning.

Andy Scheinman, Number Three Singles Man, Returns Smash From Varsity Opposition

Prospects For Next Season Appear Excellent: Texan First-Year Man Counted on Heavily