The tough part - the region tournament - of the season is over and for the past week, the Winged Lions have had some light practices and focused on getting repetitions.
"It's huge because it decides who goes to state," coach Tim Sleeper said of the region tournament. "I just need to make sure my boys are in peak form, make sure their game is in the right spot."
In some ways, the region tournament can be more pressure-filled than the state tournament. The results from the region tournament decide who makes it into the state meet, and where they will play.
"You have to be able to perform," Sleeper said.
Though the stakes at the region tournament are high, there is no doubt the coveted prize for every team - no matter the classification - is a state title. Unlike other sports, a region title doesn't carry as much weight, according to St. Joseph coach Gary Griffenhagen. And like Sleeper, Griffenhagen thinks that the region tournament is a crucial point in a team's season.
"They have about a month and a half to learn and by the region tournament, now it's showtime," Griffenhagen said. "They really have to prove themselves at this time. It leads to a potential of a good showing at [the] state [meet]."
Players at Rowland Hall rose to the occasion at its region tournament and because of that, the Winged Lions placed a player or team in every position.
They played so well that Rowland Hall players snatched up the No. 1 position from the North in every category.
"I thought all my boys played well. As far as a team that played their best, that was my first doubles boys," Sleeper said about the doubles team of Robert Thompson and Daniel Livsey. "They only lost a game or two the whole day and they just played really clean. There were very few unforced errors and they just put the ball [down] when they had the chance."
And the way they played in the region tournament sets a precedent for the state meet. The Class 1A/2A meet starts this weekend at Coach Mike's Tennis Academy and the Class 5A meet is at Liberty Park.
mthach@sltrib.com
Ready to rumble
* The region tournament, for many coaches and teams, sets the tone for the state meet.
* The Class 1A/2A state tournament starts this weekend at Coach Mike's Tennis Academy.
* The 5A tournament is this weekend at Liberty Park.
