The Class 5A and 4A state tennis tournaments, which begin today, certainly will have a foreign flavor when it comes to competition at No. 1 singles. That's because the top seed in each classification has been awarded to students with foreign ties.

In 5A, George Washington junior Mads Hagelund, who hails from Denmark and is here for two years because of his father's job, garnered the top seed. In 4A, the top position went to Jelmer Vriesma, an exchange student from the Netherlands who plays for Wheat Ridge. Both are undefeated.

The team races in each classification certainly have a familiar look, though. Cherry Creek is favored to win its 35th title in the past 37 years in 5A, while 4A powers Kent Denver and Cheyenne Mountain should battle as they have for the past 16 seasons.

Those who have seen Hagelund and Vriesma play are pretty much in agreement they are the ones to beat. In 5A, though, Rocky Mountain's Casey MacMaster and Heritage's Zach Pendleton are not about to be overlooked, nor is Chatfield's Parker Lewis.

MacMaster won the No. 3 singles title in 2006 and was runner-up last year at No. 2 singles. Lewis was a state champion at No. 4 doubles in 2005.

"Hagelund has not lost a set this season," Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price said. "He hasn't played MacMaster, and they are both very good. Hagelund's brother, Simon, will have a No. 2 seed against our Taylor Sargent (at No. 2 singles), and that also could be a fine match."

Cherry Creek won regional titles at six of the seven slots. The Bruins did not qualify at No. 1 singles.

"Regis will be tough, and Fairview is very good, too," said Price, who will send all four of the Bruins' doubles tandems into state with unbeaten records. "And we'll keep an eye on Denver East and Heritage, as they qualified all their kids."

In scanning the 4A field, Vriesma, a senior, could be challenged by Cheyenne Mountain's John Adams, Broomfield's Kelly Donaldson or Mullen's Stan Vaughan, who was runner-up last season at No. 2 singles.

Adams was a state runner-up last year at No. 2 doubles after winning at No. 4 doubles in 2005 and No. 2 doubles in 2006.

"Vriesma was in our region, and he beat our Jack Reynolds in a close match," Kent Denver coach Randy Ross said. "(Vriesma) hasn't played Vaughan, yet I'm very impressed with him. Donaldson and Adams certainly figure into the mix."

Cherry Creek has lost only two dual matches since 1972 - to Wheat Ridge in 1991 and to Kent Denver this season. So is that an indication the Sun Devils are ready to take back the title from Cheyenne Mountain after finishing second the past three seasons?

"I think it will be between us and Cheyenne again," Ross said. "We have the win over Cherry Creek, but it was their first dual of the season and they were not really at their full strength. We beat Cheyenne in our dual, but Dave (Adams) does such a good job getting his kids ready that it's going to be tough again."

Broomfield, Colorado Academy, Greeley West, Mullen and Steamboat Springs are the only other schools to qualify at all positions, but realistically, none appears to have the overall strength to upend Cheyenne Mountain or Kent Denver.

"They all have some very fine players, but I don't know if they have the depth to catch either of us," Ross said.