Rams Roll Without No. 1 Performer Cam Newton

Ladue star tennis player Cam Newton was only a spectator Tuesday at the Rams' match against Mehlville at Ladue Middle School.

Newton was not needed as the Rams needed less than an hour in their 7-0 victory over the Panthers. Ladue lost just two total games in the match which was played in a four singles-three doubles format.

Newton, who lost a tough three-set match to Jocelyn Koester of Visitation Monday, was given the day off as she is nursing a sore shoulder.

"The shoulder has been bothering me some," said Newton, who teamed with Annie Kopp to win the state Class 2 doubles title last fall. "But I will play through it."

Kopp took over at the No. 1 singles spot for the Rams Tuesday and defeated Sabina Okanovic 6-1, 6-0.

The only other game won by the Panthers was at No. 3 singles as Suriya Subramanian lost to Ella Glaser 6-0, 6-1.

The other two singles wins by the Rams were by 6-0, 6-0 scores as Libby Ferris beat Monica Wanninger at No. 2 and Caroline Oglander defeated Jamie Smith at No. 4.

Mehlville did not win a game in the three doubles matches. Mary Jane Rogers aand Maria Moenza beat Irma Hamzagic and Laura Connolly at No. 1, Katherine Burkemper and Sarah Beckmann beat Tara Becker and Dzaha Eleckovic at No. 2 and Karen Figenshav and Julia Novack beat Cara Stount and Marizela Ekic at No. 3.

"We haven't reached our potential yet," said Ladue coach Kevin Lackey, whose team lost to Visitation Monday 8-3. "I feel that we are headed in the right direction and making progress. Our best tennis is ahead of us."

Lackey is hopeful that Newton will be at full strength when the matches count the most.

"Cam is playing well and serving well," Lackey said. "Our No. 1 goal right now is making sure the shoulder is ready for the post-season."

The loss was the third of the season for the Rams. Ladue lost to Rock Bridge in Columbia and also fell to Villa Duchesne although it played without both Newton and Kopp in that match.

Mehlville won its opening match against DuBourg and has not won since.

"We have 33 girls at a program with no courts and I am very happy about that," Mehlville coach Bill Ebert said. "I am very encouraged and the girls to wanting to learn and are improving each time they step on the court. They continue to try hard and are always asking questions. I am using this as a teaching season."

Okanovic, a sophomore, is still looking for her first victory of the season as she faces tough competition like Kopp in every match she plays.

"I like the challenge of playing No. 1," Okanovic said. "You can only get better by playing the better players. I still look forward to every match and I am having fun and learning something every match. Today I learned that I need to work on my backhand."

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