Tennis conundrums…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Last year as a pre-emptive strike, I explained in-depth why I chose all six Bishop McGuinness girls on my All-City team.
No such explanation this year as very confident/satisfied with the selections of Chris Haworth of Putnam North and Whitney Ritchie of McGuinness as the Players of the Year. For their stories, go here and here.
Equally pleased with David Diefenderfer of Putnam North as the boys coach of the year and Dee Ann Wallar of Edmond North as the girls coach.
Wallar is a funny story. I remember introducing myself to her back in February of last year. She was about to coach tennis for the first time ever as she traditionally helps out with the wrestling team.
She became a sponge, just absorbing the information from the other top coaches in the state and when push came to shove, she put out the best line-up possible for the Huskies at the state tournament.
Diefenderfer, well, I’ve written about that before about how emotional it was for him to watch that match between Norman North and Union to decide the team championship.
Boys
Biggest question was the second doubles team. Gave the edge to Brian Diefenderfer and T.J. Becker of Putnam North over Edmond Memorial’s Truit Gray and Gavin Dubberstein.
Any other year and Norman North’s Sam Geurkink and Kevin Boyd win Players of the Year. Just picked the wrong year, but what a fantastic season for the both of them.
Edmond North is on the cusp of something great as all six of its players will return. And all six were right on the border of making the first/second teams.
It’s possible Wallar might be earning that coaching honor again next year, except for the boys this time around.
Girls
The big-time debate I had surfaced around Heritage Hall and McGuinness and putting Julie Labarthe over Mia Lancaster for the first team slot.
Labarthe’s game has matured greatly in the last year. She only had one loss (where she was injured) to Bishop Kelley’s Andrea Lewis, and she dominated at regionals and state.
Lancaster also had a tremendous season, and I still want to see her and Meredith Burns play again, but gave slight nod to Labarthe.
Some may take me to task for having an “all-private” first team. But when the OTCA released their final rankings, it went McGuinness, Bishop Kelley, Duncan, Heritage Hall and then Edmond North.
And frankly, I’m in agreement with that sentiment about Edmond North being the fifth best team though it was the best in 6A.
That wraps up my portion of the All-City teams. If any players or parents are reading and want to fill me in on their summer tournaments, please do so. You can never give me too much information on tennis 
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Comments
i dont know how you cant put geurkink and boyd as the doubles team.. they beat pc north easily and still didnt get it.. what is your basis for making this terrible selection..?
Sam and Kevin were the No. 1 boys doubles team. What I was saying is that any other year, they would have won Players of the Year, but Chris Haworth of PC North is dang good. Sam and Kevin were on my first team, they were superb.
Bob, I know I’m probably a bit biased but I don’t see where there’s any question about the All-City doubles teams. Norman North is a no brainer and the fact that Gray and Dubberstein were Edmond Memorial’s no. 2 doubles and Putnam North beat their no. 1 doubles 2-1 is all that needs to be said. You got it right.
David