SIOUX FALLS - Last year, Rapid City Stevens was the favorite to snare its first-ever state boys tennis championship, and the boys in blue certainly lived up to the billing.

The Raiders claimed seven of nine championship flights (and were runners-up in the remaining two flights) and piled up a record 750 points at the first boys tournament hosted in Rapid City in 36 years.

The 79th annual boys state tournament returns to Sioux Falls starting today, and while the Raiders remain the consensus team to beat, the pick seems to be more prohibitive.

"They're still the favorite," Sioux Falls O'Gorman coach Don Barnes said about the Raiders. "We're young, but we've played them close a couple times this year and maybe we can do that again."

O'Gorman, Watertown, Aberdeen Roncalli, Brookings and Rapid City Central are also tabbed to be in the mix when the three-day tournament starts today at McKennan Park, Roosevelt High School's Kuehn Park and the Washington High School courts.

"Last year, we walked in as the overwhelming favorite, but this year we're not going in that way," Raider head coach Jason Olson said.

Stevens No. 1 player, sophomore Billy Paluch, hopes to follow in the footsteps of cousin Corey Paluch and sister Whitney, the winningest boys and girls players in state history.

"(I'm) a bit nervous, because I have to live up to everyone's standards, but I think we'll do well," he said.

Paluch is unbeaten in singles, but he and doubles partner Jack Hamburg, an eighth-grader, have needed

The duo suffered their only loss of the season to O'Gorman's Brad

Entwistle and Jameson Goetz during the Rapid City Invitational.

"We've definitely have put that behind us," Paluch said. "We just needed some matches because we haven't played together that much before.

"Me and Jack are really strong in doubles right now, and we're looking forward to state," Paluch said.

Hamburg is 16-1, No. 3 Gib Moyle (15-1) and No. 4 Cody Malik (23-2) have both battled through shoulder injuries, and No. 5 J.J. Shultz (23-2) has also struggled at times. Senior Phil Henzlik (21-4) rounds out the lineup at No. 6.

"We had a good weekend last weekend and we're playing well right now," Olson said. "We should be seeded ones and twos and maybe a couple of threes."

Rapid City Central has shown signs of emerging from the shadow of Stevens and O'Gorman, the Cobblers finding new determination under the tutelage of Greater Dakota Conference coach of the year Scott Sturlaugson.

"I think that's a big difference from this year to last year. Last year, we were kind of tentative going into the state tournament, and this year we're going to go with more of a purpose. I think we'll play with a lot more intensity and confidence," Sturlaugson said.

"We're definitely shooting for a top five finish," he said.

The Cobblers finished their dual season at 20-4.

"I don't remember any Cobbler tennis team that had a 20-win season, so this group really has performed well," he said.

Sturlaugson said the key wins for Central came on an eastern swing when the Cobblers beat Watertown and Brookings, both by identical 5-4 scores.

"If there was any spot during the season that built our confidence and said, 'hey we're a state contender,' that was the weekend," Sturlaugson said.

The Cobblers are led by junior Evan Sims (14-12) at No. 1, followed by Cale Barber (21-5) , Dexter Lappe (16-9), Dan Tully (22-4), Tom Tolman (17-9) and Jonathan Reis (14-11).

"We've had a wonderful season. I'm looking for a great performance out of us personally," said Cobbler No. 1 player Evan Sims.

O'Gorman's young team boasts a pair of eighth-graders playing varsity, including No. 1 Entwistle (17-4), and No. 5. Elliot Czarnecki

Goetz (19-3) is at second flight

for the Knights, followed by Andrew Billion, Paul Fahrendorf, Czarnecki and Kevin Rance.

Knights coach Don Barnes said he hopes home court advantage will fall on the Knight's side of the net.

"This year we get to sleep in our own beds and maybe that will work in our favor," he said.

Also expected to have an impact are Brookings' B.J. Flynn (11-0), Madison's Nathan Janssen (20-0), Pierre's Alex Lauseng (12-11), Aberdeen Roncalli's Robert Carlson (13-9), and Watertown's Marcus Schoepp (14-7), and St. Thomas More's Lucas Ashland (12-5).

Coaches said that the key to the first two days is to avoid upsets. A change in the tournament format for this year means all players will see action right away. In past years top-seeded players received a bye today.

Barnes said the tournament really doesn't start until about mid-morning on Saturday.

"That's if you're in it," he said. "We tell the kids that you don't have to beat the whole state, you just take it one at a time and then see where you're at in the semifinals."

Olson said the Raiders aren't taking anyone lightly.

"I'm sure there's a lot of teams that think O'Gorman can knock us off. That's okay. They're good, and they don't fear us at all," Olson said. "Don Barnes has done such a good job of getting those kids to compete and not fear us.

"A lot of teams at first did fear us, but now they're thinking maybe "hey, we can get those guys in a few spots," Olson said.

"We can't think about anyone else. We just have to worry about ourselves and go in and get the job done."

some time to jell.