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A year ago, Mason High's boys tennis team had three district qualifiers for the first time in coach Linda Kirtley's 10 years in the program.

A year later, the Comets hope to take it one step further.

Seniors Chris Hall, Bobby Eberhard and Sameam Shahrestani will make their second consecutive appearance at the Division I district tournament when play begins at 9:30 a.m. today, May 22, at Princeton High School.

Two wins today, and it's off to the state tournament next weekend in Columbus.

"We're excited," said Shahrestani, who's paired with Eberhard in the doubles draw. "Our next goal is state. We really want to get there. That's the ultimate goal for both of us — to get to the next level and hopefully place."

Shahrestani and Eberhard — 4-2 together this season after a sectional runner-up finish — lost in the first round of last year's districts.

They will face Greenville's Ryan Butts and Patrick Clark, the third seed from the Troy sectional, in the first round. A potential match-up with St. Xavier seniors Marc Pretorius and Jonathan Gaffney looms in the state-qualifying round.

"That's a rather difficult bracket to be in," Kirtley said. "Of course, all of them are challenging, but this one a little bit more so."

Hall (17-8) drew Springfield North senior Lee Dixon, the top seed from the Troy sectional, in the first round. Hall would then play either Centerville senior Stefan Wagner or Oak Hills senior Alex Turman in the quarterfinals.

"It's always a good feeling to get back to districts," Hall said. "Hopefully I can make state this time."

Hall lost in the quarterfinals a year ago.

"He has an opportunity there," Kirtley said. "We'll see how well he actually plays. The good news is he's not playing the St. X guys."

The district semifinals and finals will be Saturday, May 24, at Princeton to determine seeding for the state tournament.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.

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