After First Day of Regional Competition, Blue Jay Tennis Players Automatically Qualify for State Tournament

Posted April 22, 2013 / Last updated August 3, 2013

Sophomore Gregory Suhor jumps high for this “kill shot” while teammate, junior Kevin Mickan, stands guard in the back court during their doubles match against Destrehan on Monday, April 22, the opening day of the LHSAA
Regional Tournament at UNO.

By the end of the opening day of competition at the LHSAA Regional Tennis Tournament at UNO, several of Jesuit’s varsity players had already clinched a berth in next week’s state tourney, including three seniors who are defending state champions — Hobie Hotard in singles, and Trevor Lew and James Sampognaro in doubles.

Freshman Jonathan Niehaus displayed his strong serve to opponents and will also be heading north to Monroe for the state tournament next week.

All eyes will remain fixed on Hotard to see if he can pull off what no player has done in the history of prep tennis in Louisiana — win an unprecedented four consecutive individual championships. On opening day (Monday, April 22) of the regional tournament, Hotard coasted against his two opponents, winning every single game and match.

It was a great start for Hotard as the countdown begins to the state tournament.

The second and final day of competition at the regional event continues at UNO on Tuesday, April 23, with matches beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 2 p.m.

The second day of regional action continues Tuesday with the matches beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 2 p.m.

Nola.com Recap of the Day 1 Regional Tournament Singles’ Matches

Nola.com Recap of the Day 1 Regional Tournament Doubles’ Matches

Results from Day 1 of the Regional Tournament

Player	Round	Opponent	W/L	Score
Hobie Hotard	2	Christian Breaux, Hahnville	W	6-0, 6-0
	QF	Brennan Arceneaux, South Lafourche	W	6-0, 6-0
Jonathan Niehaus	2	Reid Andreas, Thibodaux	W	6-1, 6-0
	QF	Daniel Wilkerson, South Lafourche	W	6-0, 6-0
Mickan/Suhor	1	Oliver/Boudreaux, Bougeois	W	6-0, 6-1
	2	Gulliot/Dempsey, Destrehan	W	6-0, 6-0
	QF	Jenkins/Nguyen, New Iberia	W	6-3, 6-3
Lew/Sampognaro	2	Hargroder/Poche, Terrebone	W	6-0, 6-0
	QF	Larousse/Thibodeaux, Thibodeaux	W	6-1, 6-0
Tufts/Lacoste	1	LaBlanc/Elkhanoufi, New Iberia	W	6-0, 6-0
	2	Ngo/Pizzani, South Lafourche	W	6-0, 6-0
	QF	Hill/Gervais, Brother Martin	W	6-0, 6-1

Galleries

Tennis, Regional Tournament Day 1, April 22, 2013

In their first match of the tournament, Kevin Mickan and Gregory Suhor beat H.L. Bourgeois in doubles play (6-0, 6-1).
Kevin Mickan
Junior Andrew Tufts
Juniors Jordan Lacoste and Andrew Tufts are all smiles ...
... after winning their first doubles match against New Iberia.
Coaches Jerry Hernandez and Billy Dwyer watch the players warm up with coach Travis Smith.
Freshman Jonathan Niehaus and senior Hobie Hotard warm up for their first match.
Seniors Trevor Lew and James Sampognaro hit strategically from this bump ...
... to this slam. Trevor and James are the defending state champion doubles partners.
James Sampognaro serves with doubles partner Trevor Lew to defeat Thibodaux (6-1, 6-0) in the quarter-finals match.
Coach Jerry Hernandez gives a tip to Hobie Hotard.
Freshman Jonathan Niehaus
Blue Jay parents are a great team of helpers. They are (from left) Gerry and Geralyn Suhor, Jan Mickan, Lisa Beck, Linda DePascual, Fred Tufts ’82, and John Hotard ’80.
In this doubles match with teammate Kevin Mickan, Gregory Suhor smashes the ball on the court against Destrehan to win (6-0, 6-0). The duo finished the day with a win over New Iberia (6-3, 6-3).