Memphis University School - Owl Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Tennis Team Takes 1 st in SAC, 1 st in District, 1st in Regional, and 3rd in State Eighth Grader Jimmy Brown Leads Netmen in Both Singles and Doubles After graduating five top players from last season ' s state championship team, this year ' s tennis program was a big uncertainty. Surprisingly, a young team led by eighth grader Jimmy Brown established itself as the best in West Tennessee and third best in the State. The tennis team opened its season by breezing past all Memphis and Shelby County opposition. The key to the squad ' s early success was incredible depth; most teams found themselves lacking the talent necessary to field six singles and three doubles teams, but MUS had more than enough quality players. The netmen jumped out to an eight-match unbeaten streak, during which they shut out six opposing teams. Since the Buzzards tore apart their local prey so easily, Coach Bill Taylor could often afford to rest some key players. The young and relatively untested tennis team collided with fierce competition on its first road trip. The Owls suffered two consecutive setbacks at the hands of MBA and Baylor. The squad ' s next trial was the Chattanooga Rotary Tournament, an event which featured 24 of the South ' s top teams. Led by the strong singles and doubles play of Jimmy Brown, the Buzzards struggled to a sixth-place finish in the highly competitive tournament. Coach Taylor saw this road trip as a turning point in the season; the team gained experience from facing high caliber opposition, which they would have to face in the state tournament. MUS returned to Memphis, and, after slamming Collierville 6-0, opened its post-season play. The Owls captured the SAC crown as Bill Lewis, Eddie Murphey, John Kremer, and Jimmy Brown were named to the all- conference team. The team easily swept through the District, and then entered the Regional tournament at MUS. Jimmy Brown reached the singles final of the Regional, but lost to Mark Herrington 6- 4, 7-6. Both of MUS ' doubles teams were finalists with the team of Brown and Eddie Murphey defeating Jeff Gray and Bill Noah. The Owls scored six points in the State competition to finish third; both doubles teams reached the semifinals, and Brown reached the singles final. The tennis team ' s youth combined with another year of experience provides great hope for next season ' s squad. An example of the youthfulness of the squad was Eddie Murphey, whose strong play aided the team throughout the year. Murphey, doing double-duty in the District, serves during his singles match and then teams with Jimmy Brown to reach the doubles final. Steady ground strokes and consistent play made Bill Lewis a valuable asset to the tennis team. 1979 VARSITY TENNIS TEAM: (first row) Michael Aronoff, Scotty Scott, Lee Hollis, Jimmy Brown, Bubba Halliday, Adam Hohenberg, Charles Jalenak; (second row) John Kremer, Bill Bell, Eddie Murphey, Bill Lewis, Bill Noah, Jeff Gray, Bill Gross, Jim Burrow. TENNIS 19

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TENNIS Awaiting an opponent ' s return, Jimmy Brown clearly shows the intense concentration needed to win. Brown ' s victories were important in the team ' s achieving an excellent record. In the D sfr cf tournament doubles final, Jeff Gray prepares to return serve. Oddly, the two teams competing in the finals were both from MUS. Gray and Bill Noah upset the 1 doubles team of Jimmy Brown and Eddie Murphey. The two teams met again in the Regional finals; that time Brown and Murphey prevailed. Both doubles teams reached the State tournament but were eliminated in the semifinals. 79 TENNIS 0-2) 9 Memphis Prep 9 Harding 4 Raleigh-Egypt 2 9 Bishop Byrne 8 Jackson Central-Merry 8 Harding 1 9 Memphis Prep 7 Catholic 3 MBA 6 2 Baylor 7 6 Collierville 6th Chattanooga Rotary 1st SAC Tournament 1st District 1st Regional 3rd State 18 EVENTS

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Second-Place Finish in SAC-7 Meet Highlights Varsity Runners ' Season Wortham and Peters Speed Into Region; Dunlap Takes SAC Decathlon The varsity track team enjoyed a good season, winning two out of three triangular meets and finishing near the top in two invitational meets and the SAC championship meet. MUS also sent four runners to the District and two to the Regional. The season began with a triangular meet against Catholic and SBEC. MUS was hardly challenged as they outscored runner-up Catholic by 54 points. Tom Wortham was the star of this meet as he won the 1 00-yard dash, the 120 high hurdles, and the 330 intermediate hurdles. The next event was the Harding Invitational. The Owls finished a disappointing fourth in the meet, which was won by Harding. The highlight of the meet was an outstanding winning performance by the mile-relay team of Jimmy Allen, Cannon Allen, Jeff Peters, and Judd Peters. On April 1 0, the Owls faced Bishop Byrne and Catholic in a triangular meet. MUS took first place easily. A week later the Owls finished second to Harding and ahead of SBEC in another triangular meet. Highlights included Don Miller ' s long jump and Wortham ' s victory in the intermediate hurdles. The next week the Owls hosted the MUS invitational. The Owls finished fifth, led by the first-place finish of the mile- relay team. Other fine performances came from Hopie Brooks in the mile, and Jeff Peters in the half-mile. MUS finished a strong second in the SAC-7 meet. Wortham won the intermediate hurdles, Philip Cox finished second in the 1 00 and third in the 220. In the District, the Owls were represented by Wortham, Wade, Brooks, and Jeff Peters. Wortham placed second in the intermediate hurdles, and Peters took third in the 880 as both runners qualified for the Regional. The Owls ' track team had a good season even though there were only three seniors on the team — Jeff Peters, Dunlap, and Henry Caldwell, who was injured most of the season. However, steady performances by Cox and Dunlap in the high jump, Brooks and Wade in distance races, Wortham in the hurdles, and Peters in the 880 and mile- relay provided enough spark for the Owls to have a good season. In his first season with the MUS track team, Tom Wortham consistently hurdled to victory and advanced to the regional meet. Wortham outdistances his opponents in winning the 330 intermediate hurdles during the meet with Catholic and SBEC. Under unfavorable weather conditions Jeff Peters still managed to finish third in the 880- yard run at the District championships at the Kennedy Complex. Peters ' finish qualified him to participate in the Regional. ' 79 TRACK (5-1) 107 Catholic 53 SBEC 8 85 Bishop Byrne 56 Catholic 34 75 Harding 96 SBEC 3 4th Harding Invitational 2nd SAC-7 Championships 20 EVENTS