The newly released Ohio Tennis Coaches’ Association poll is in and the varsity gold tennis team is tied for fourth in the state rankings.

Cincinnati St. Xavier is the unanimous number one, receiving 110 votes and all 11 first place votes. Second is the Toledo St. John’s squad that the gold team lost to in its opening match on March 31, 2010.

In third is a New Albany team that moved up to Division I just three years ago. Then, Upper Arlington of Columbus and Cincinnati Sycamore are tied for fourth in the rankings, each receiving 58 votes.

“It is good that we are ranked in the top five in the state but we can’t be satisfied…we’re aiming for number one,” said Adam Reinhart, 11.

The team proved to GMC foe Hamilton why it is ranked number four in the state on April 27 by defeating them 5-0 and taking 60 out of a possible 61 games won.

“To say that we beat them would be an understatement…we pounded them,” said Nikhil Grandhi, 9.

On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, the team will face one of its last regular season challenges against a Loveland team that is ranked in the top five in the city. Then on Friday, April 30, the team will head up north to take on the team they are tied with—Upper Arlington in a clash of two top five teams.

“That will be a good match and I’m looking forward to it,” said Yuri Karev, 10. – Posted: Fri, Apr 30 2010 8:39:43 AM EST by Frank Pan