Memphis University School - Owl Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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LITTLE GUYS, BIG RACQUET Five Underclassmen Prove Competitive as Netmen Win District Mfen ftfMl liif ' ntf Tff jIri TENNIS (8-2) 6 Memphis Prep 3 3 Harding 1 8 Jackson Central-Merry 1 9 Bishop Byrne 5 Raleigh-Egypt 2 9 Catholic 2 MBA 7 1 Baylor 8 9 Briarcrest 8 Collierville 2nd Chattanooga Rotary 1st SAC-7 1st District 3rd Regional Individual Won-Loss Records; Gray 27-7, Lewis 5-9, Halliday 17-9. Kremer 25-10. Scott 19-8, Barry 24-9, Garner 7-0, Bernard 5-0 Aro- noff7-0. Burrow 2-0, Harris 2-0 As usual, the tennis team enjoyed yet another successful campaign. Under the guidance of Coach Bill Taylor, the team finished 8-2, with both losses coming at the hands of non-West Tennessee opposition. At mid-season, the netmen placed second in the select Chattanooga Rotary Tournament. As the season began, it looked as if five of the six starters would be returnees. However, Eddie Murphey shifted his interests to track, and Jimmy Brown transferred to Germantown. So, for the second consecutive year, the tennis team was quite young. The starting six included one senior, Jeff Gray; one junior, Bill Lewis; one sophomore, Bubba Halliday; two freshmen, John Kremer and Scotty Scott; and one eighth- grader, Jeff Barry. The netmen raced to a 6-0 record, heading into a road trip to Middle and Eastern Tennessee. The first match on the trip was against MBA of Nashville. Following a loss, the road trip continued with an appearance in the Chattanooga Rotary Tournament, as well as a dual match with perennial power Baylor. Although the trip was not a total success, it provided experience against some of the better competition Tennessee has to offer. After cruising through the regular season, post-season action loomed. Jeff Barry, the winner of the Harrison-Humphreys trophy, had ascended to the number one spot after Bill Lewis was sidelined with bursitis. Barry pulled off two stunning upsets over highly regarded Dale Tnompson of Harding during post- season play to lead the team to SAC-7 and District championships. Although the top six performed very well, the tennis team also enjoyed great depth. The following players combined for a 29-0 record, lending valuable help to the starters: Warwick Garner, David Bernard, Michael Aronoff, Jim Burrow, Greg Harris, Charles Jalenak, and Brian Sullivan. Departing from his usual two-handed backhand, |ohn Kremer returns a backhand-volley in the rain-shortened victory over Harding. Freshman Scotty Scott displays a perfect follow-through on his forehand shot during the Owls 9-0 pasting of Briarcrest. Tennis 19

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1980 TENNIS TEAM: front row John Kremer, Jim Burrow, Scotty Scott, Brian Sullivan, back row Lance Fair, Bubba Halliday, Jeff Gray, Jeff Barry, Greg Harris, Charles Jalenak, Michael Aronoff. r Jeff Gray, who provided valuable leadership to the tennis team, exerts all his power in this serve against his Catholic opponent. In the 70 ' s new emphasis was put on playing shots that had topspin on them. Jeff Barry exhibits his mastery of the topspin shot. The serve is probably the most dominant element in tennis; here, Bubba Halliday concentrates on a good first serve. 18 Sports !Ra ■

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YEAR OF SECONDS 2-Mile Relay Team Places 2nd in State The 1980 track team ' s season was highlighted by the two-mile relay team ' s second-place finish in the state meet. Overall, the team was 3-1, finishing second in the Harding Invitational, second in the SAC-7 meet, third in the MUS Invitational, and completing the regional meet in eighth place of 20 teams. — Senior David Percer established a new SAC-7 standard with a 52 ' 8 shot put, besting the old mark by seven feet. David placed third in the shot put in the regional meet. — Junior Tommy Meriwether, high jumping for the first time, surprised many observers, as he finished first in the MUS Invitational and third in the SAC-7 meet. — Freshman Mac McCarroll threw a 47 ' 1 shot put during the season. — Junior Keith Christenbury, a hurdler, got off to a brilliant start, breaking the Harding Invitational record in the intermediate hurdles, then breaking the MUS Invitational record previously held by his brother. However, after winning the district, disaster struck. With a regional title and trip to the state on the line, Keith hit a hurdle and fell, a dismal end to an otherwise outstanding year. — Junior David Taylor, who anchored the two-mile relay team, pulled out three races in just his first year to race. The eighth-grade track team finished its sixth consecutive season without a loss. This year ' s team was 6- 0. Two of the record-setters were Jay Steed in the high jump and Bobby Wade in the mile. Other notable performances were turned in by Rob Sumner and Jon Peters. As Paul Luttrell completes his leg of the 880- relay, Steve Lawrence takes the baton and begins the third leg during the MUS Invitational. With a Briarcrest jumper admiring from behind, junior [aden Wells strains for every possible inch on the way to a long-jump good for third place in the MUS Invitational. In preparation for the regional meet, the two- mile relay team of Tim Greer, Judd Peters, David Taylor, and jaden Wells (alternate for Davant Latham) work out under the watchful eye of Coach John Keesee. 20 Sports