The draw for the Boys 12th Region Tennis Tournament has been set with play beginning this Friday, May 8th, and continuing through Sunday May 10th.

Matches will be played at Berea College and Madison Southern High School in Berea.  Sixteen schools will participate.

Team favorites going into the regional include Casey and Mercer Counties. Both teams will be led by strong play in both singles and doubles.  

Kyle Jeffries of Casey County, easily garnered the #1 seed in singles play.  Jeffries is undefeated this season and has not been challenged in any of his matches.  

The previous two seasons, he and his brother, Chad, have won the doubles title at region and have played at the State tournament.

Chad graduated last year and Kyle has adjusted adeptly to singles play.

Kyle Chadwick of Mercer County is the #2 seed.  His only two losses have been at the hand of Jeffries.   

 #3 seed in singles is young Colin Hart of Lincoln County.  Kerry Kingry of Russell County is the #8 seed. Corey Smith will also play singles for the Lakers.

The doubles competition should be highly contested with no clear cut winner in sight.  Koji Butterbaugh and Cody Nolin of Mercer County come in as the #1 seed in doubles play.    

Brad Jeffries and Ryan Martin of Casey County are the #2 seed, while Ross Baeker and Blake Hobson of Danville secured the #3 seed.  

Baeker and Hobson split decisions with Butterbaugh and Nolin during the season with each team winning 8-3.

Representing the Russell County Lakers in doubles play will be the teams of Cody Womack/Jansen Turner and Kyle Garner/Alex Mann.  

The Laker Boys tennis team is coached by Eric Bennett.  

The young Lakers (5 of 6 players are Sophomores) are looking to greatly improve on last’s year regional showing which provided some good game experience.  

Look for a preview of the Girls 12th Region tourney in next week’s paper.