Thursday, June 03, 1999
Sophomore sets sights on state tennis title
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
Dixie Heights sophomore tennis player Justin Yeager was scheduled to turn in his final project for his drafting class Wednesday — drawings of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, ranch-style house.
Today, he starts assembling plans he hopes will end with a state singles title Saturday. He gets a bye, then meets either Pramit Patel of Paducah Lone Oak or Peter Barr of Lexington Catholic at 4p.m. today in the second round at the University of Kentucky Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center .
Yeager has been working on footwork since winning the 12th Region title two weeks ago.
“I'm just trying to get into position to hit all my shots,” he said. “I never really realized how important footwork is.”
Yeager is in his third state tournament — the others were in 1995 and 1996 — but still seeks his first victory.
“Actually, I really don't remember how I played; I just remember losing,” Yeager said.
Dixie coach Tom Wischer remembers.
“I remember he had some skills; he was just small,” Wischer said.”
By 1997, Yeager began questioning why he was even on the court — largely because he had been playing since age 5. “I didn't think I was getting any better,” he said.
That began to changeg in 1998.
“Now I'm improving,” Yeager said. “I think I'm just bigger now. I have more power, and my mental game has improved a lot.”
In girls competition, Notre Dame goes for its third straight team title. Junior Lyndsey Molony is the No.3 singles seed, and seniors Lindsay Dressman and Jessica Kirkpatrick are No.6 in doubles.
Pandas coach Rob Hardin said Dressman and Kirkpatrick should have been seeded higher.
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