With or without star, Plant tennis is solid

Plant senior Joel Samaha, the tennis team's No. 1 player, has played in only five of the squad's 10 matches, but the way Panthers coach Michael McWilliams sees it, this is a good thing. That's because Samaha has a reason for being absent; he regularly plays in USTA events throughout the state.

"I find that competition is much better than practice," McWilliams said. "By him going and playing with higher competition, that's best for Joel. In return, it's best for the team, too."

Here's why: When Samaha, who will play for Yale, misses a Plant match, everyone else gets the experience of playing up a spot. For example, Dylan Tozier, the team's No. 2 player, has faced several No. 1 opponents, and fared quite well. McWilliams hopes all of this will make Plant, which is 8-2 this season, better prepared for districts. And beyond if advances.

Samaha, by the way, is 4-1.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR