Trying to predict who the next Class 5A No. 1 boys tennis singles champion will be is a risky proposition, especially this season.

Jordan Bridge, the Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado player of the year in 2006, would be the favorite to repeat, but the Grand Junction junior might not compete this season.

Bridge, who beat graduated Cherry Creek standout Doug Mayeda last season, is considering playing in national club tournaments and skipping the high school season.

Mitch Bridge, Jordan's father, who runs the Junction Tennis Academy in Grand Junction, said Jordan and senior teammate Ryan McNamara didn't go out on the first day of practice Aug. 13.

According to the elder Bridge, McNamara has been ruled ineligible for the season because of a bylaw the Colorado High School Activities Association passed last spring. The rule limited a student's ability to play at a high school if he or she transferred to participate in a specialized sport training program.

McNamara trains at the Junction Tennis Academy but his parents live in Vail. McNamara finished fourth at state in 2006 at No. 2 singles. He most likely is going to play in national tournaments with the younger Bridge. Junior Ben Scissors will play for the Tigers.

"Jordan, Ryan and Ben all wanted to be on the same (high school) team together again and that will not happen because Ryan isn't going to get to play," Mitch Bridge said. "Now, it doesn't look like Jordan and Ben want to go out for the high school team."

No matter what happens with the Grand Junction squad, senior Will Vasos of Rocky Mountain will be a legitimate state contender at No. 1 singles.

"I know that there is going to be some very tough competition out there and I just want to be on top of my game," the 5-foot-9, 150-pound Vasos said. "I know it would be great if I could be a state champion, but I know I am going to have to keep working hard to reach that goal."

Vasos is a three-time state qualifier at No. 1 singles and last season lost to now-graduated Eric Kreutzer of Regis in three sets in the quarterfinals.

Geoff Lewis of Durango and Chris Cooprider of Cherry Creek should present some of the toughest competition for Vasos.

Lewis is a senior, Cooprider a junior. Lewis was the No. 2 singles champion in 2005, and Cooprider placed third at No. 2 singles last season.

"I know that Will has definitely been playing some good tennis at national tournaments this summer," said Rocky Mountain coach Bobbe Bennett, who is Vasos' older sister. "I also know that he is coming into this season with a positive attitude and he's ready to go for it all. I think he has a shot at getting the title."

Also helping Vasos is he practices each day with teammate Casey MacMaster. MacMaster, a sophomore, won the No. 2 singles state crown last season and was an All-Colorado selection.

Rocky Mountain finished fourth in the state team standings behind Cherry Creek, Grand Junction and Boulder.

"Having (Casey) to hit with in practice has really helped me and I think it will make us both better this season," Vasos said.

Whether Vasos reaches state supremacy or not, he is going to continue his tennis career at the next level. He is considering Iowa, Michigan State, Indiana, Louisville and Boise State.

NOTEBOOK

• There has been one constant in Colorado boys tennis for more than three decades and that's Cherry Creek winning state championships. The Bruins have won 33 of the past 35 titles.

"We approach every year the same, and the biggest advantage we have is that we have a lot of kids in our program," said Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price, who is beginning his 32nd season at the helm.

Besides Chris Cooprider, seniors Alan Oakes, Andy Benson, John Posada, Steven Kiffor and Austin West return, as do juniors Harry Jewett and Connor Macey.

• In Class 4A, Cheyenne Mountain again will be the team to beat. The Indians have won state titles 12 of the past 15 seasons.

Kent Denver and Cheyenne Mountain tied for the state title in 1999, and the Sun Devils won state outright in 2003 and 2004. A year ago, Cheyenne Mountain edged Kent Denver 64-63 to win state.

"We've got some strong leadership back and we should be tough at No. 1 and No. 2 singles with Brad Young and Justin Hermes," said Dave Adams, coach at Cheyenne Mountain since 1987. "Our No. 3 singles spot is up for grabs, but we have a lot of solid returners and some good freshmen coming into our program."

Young, a senior, beat Ramsey Bernard of Steamboat Springs to win at No. 2 singles last year. Bernard also is returning for his senior season. Adams also has senior Jay Patel and juniors John Adams, the coach's son, Hemal Semwal, Kevin Lynch and Michael Cutter back in the mix.

"I think teamwise, Kent Denver has got to be right up there," Adams said.

The Sun Devils are led by seniors Moses Taylor and Alex Bankoff.

• Individually, Young and Bernard would appear to be the 4A favorites at No. 1 singles. The top four finishers from a year ago graduated.

"It should be a very fun and interesting season," said Steamboat Springs coach John Aragon, whose team placed fourth at state last year.

• There also are some key Colorado High School Activities Association rules changes that teams must adhere to this season. Namely, the new ethics rule.

In the past, to keep teams from stacking lineups, coaches had to lock in their respective lineups, based on play and challenge matches, by the seventh match of the season.

Under the new ethics rule, coaches can change their lineups at any point in the season. The key, though, is all points earned at a position remain for seeding points for regionals. Coaches also must provide proof of any change that occurs during the season, showing it is as a result of head-to-head play.

"We can't legislate the ethics rule, but with the new ethics rule, players can put pressure on coaches to make sure that kids are playing in the right spots," CHSAA associate commissioner Paul Angelico said. "Coaches have to show ladder challenge matches to justify moves they make in their lineups."

• The 5A state tournament will remain at the University of Colorado's South Campus and Fairview High School. The Gates Tennis Center in Denver is undergoing renovations.

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