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Endrikat, Tornado eye SOC crowns By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN North Medford High senior Jonathan Endrikat begins his quest for a fourth straight Southern Oregon Conference boys tennis title today. Endrikat has won the past three SOC boys doubles titles with his brother, Chris, a 1999 graduate. But for his final SOC tournament Thursday and Saturday, Endrikat is the top-seeded singles player. Singles play is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Southern Oregon University, while doubles are slated for Hunter Park in Ashland. Endrikat is expected to play his first singles match today at approximately 10:30 a.m. after gaining a first-round bye. The Southern Oregon Conference girls tournament also begins at 8 a.m. today at Stewart Park in Roseburg. North's boys -- the defending champions -- are expected to be challenged by Ashland and Roseburg for the team title at Hunter Park. The Endrikat brothers advanced to the Class 4A state finals the past two springs before losing. A year ago, the brother team fell to Roseburg's Todd Lindbloom and Ty Garrison in the state championship match. The Endrikat brothers had beaten the Roseburg team in nine straight matches entering the state finals. "It was a situation where they didn't miss any shots in the third set," says Jon Endrikat, who admits the memory of that loss still haunts him. "We should have won, and we knew it. I didn't play very well, and Chris played all right, but we should have won. "I think it should be a breeze through district, but after last year, I know that probably won't be the case. But I'm pretty loose this year. My goal is to go out and hit good shots." Endrikat hopes to steam through the boys singles field in the SOC tournament in preparation for a run at the state title that has eluded him. But this time, he's playing singles. "I like singles because you don't feel the pressure of playing for somebody else (partner)," says Endrikat. "It's just me out there for myself. I like that better." Endrikat, who has signed a letter of intent with Cal State-Irvine to play tennis, says he will focus on playing his best, rather than feeling the pressure to win matches in the SOC and state tournaments. Endrikat has beaten every seeded singles player in the tournament. Gustavo Menenez of Klamath Union is seeded No. 2 in singles, Noah Lichtenstein of Crater third and Reid Arthur of Klamath Union fourth. In doubles, Lindbloom and Ryan Felker of Roseburg are seeded No. 1, Jeremy Leever and Brock Jonasson of North Medford are No. 2, Paul Dickerson and Tom Cohen of Grants Pass No. 3 and the brother team of Zach and Eli Matthews of South Medford No. 4. All semifinalists in singles and doubles will qualify for the Class 4A state tournament. North Medford sophomore Jenny Brown takes the top-seeded position in singles and the North team of Kelsey Chamberlain and Andrea Pratt are top-seeded No. 1 in doubles. North Medford, with four seeded singles players and three seeded doubles teams, is the favorite to win the girls title, but Roseburg and Ashland could challenge. Leslie Schultz of North Medford is seeded third in singles and Annie Chaney of the Black Tornado is fourth. Also among the top eight singles seeds for North is Tabitha Grytness at No. 7. Other girls singles seeds are Allison Wilson of Klamath Union at No. 2, Ali Gardner of Ashland at No. 5, Suzie Thomas of Ashland at No. 6 and Amy Koskella of Ashland at No. 8. North Medford's other seeded doubles teams are April Louie-Shannon Leever at No. 5, and Alicia Del Rosso-Rebekah Murphy at No. 6. South Medford's team of Julia White-Hoppe and Marian Close are seeded seventh and Justine Bowen-Jones and Jessica Baker of Ashland are eighth. Top Seeds BOYS SINGLES -- 1, Jonathan Endrikat, North Medford; 2, Gustavo Menenez, Klamath Union; 3 Noah Lichtenstein, Crater. GIRLS SINGLES -- 1, Jenny Brown, North Medford. 2, Allison Wilson, Klamath Union. 3, Leslie Schultz, North Medford. BOYS DOUBLES -- 1, Justin Lindbloom-Ryan Felker, Roseburg; 2, Jeremy Leever-Brock Jonasson, North Medford; 3, Paul Dickerson-Tom Cohen, Grants Pass. GIRLS DOUBLES -- 1, Kelsey Chamberlain-Andrea Pratt, North Medford. 2, Jenny Spears-Chelsea Johnson, Ashland. 3, Elisa Tryon-Becky Correll, Roseburg. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA