This is a series that will appear everyday until January 1st, looking at the best of this past decade.

Here is my all-decade Oregon high school boys team:
• Alex Rovello, Cleveland, 2010 – 3 Class 5A titles (that’s all of them) and has not lost a high school match yet. Going for a perfect 4 state titles this year.
• Austin Rifkin, West Linn, 2006 – With brother Rian, won 2 state doubles titles, with an ultra-aggressive style.
• Brett Joelson, Westview, 2003 – 2 dominating singles titles. Big, strong and dang good!
• Michael Calkins, Jesuit, 2000 – Although he did most of his damage in the 90s (2 state titles and a runner-up), Calkins started off this decade by winning the state title.
• Ric Mortera, Jesuit, 2005 – 1 singles title, 1 doubles title. Some epic battles. 4 years of at least the semifinals.
• Rian Rifkin, West Linn, 2004 – With brother Austin, won 2 state doubles titles, basically chasing most opponents off the court.
• Scott Morse, Cascade Christian, 2009 – 4 small-school state titles. 3 in singles and 1 in doubles. You can’t do any better than that.
• Stephen Robertson, West Linn, 2005 – 1 singles title, in the running all four years.
• Spencer Straub, Rex Putnam, 2001 – Large school State singles champ in 2001.
• Tanner Borg, North Medford, 2009 – 3 Class 6A doubles titles (that’s all of them). With two different partners.
• Tommy Hicks, Grant, 2005 – He never won a state singles title, but he came close every year. Part of the incredible class of 05 (Hicks, Robertson, Mortera, Joel Kinkaid, Pannhara Mam, Max Liberty-Point, Charlie Cutler, Tyler Jackson, Art Karas, Daniel Becker, Michael Merz, Zach Johnston, Nick Ruess and Charles Tran… wow! Best class of the decade by far.)
• Zhenya Pereverzin, Clackamas, 2010 – 3 Class 6A titles (that’s all of them). Going for a perfect 4 this year.

Honorable Mention: Curt Wheeler, Sprague; Chris Wiechert, Churchill; Dustin Forsyth, Ontario; Cody Ferguson, North Bend; Kyle Halberg, Sheldon; Joey Halberg, Sheldon; Ryan Nedrow, OES; Jason Stack, OES; Nick Wales, Sprague.

Central Oregon Boys Team:
• Adam Krull, Summit 2012 – State doubles title as a freshman. Never lost an IMC match.
• Alex Walentin, Summit 2007 – With partner Cody Kohlmoos, won the first ever boys state title in IMC history. 2-time IMC doubles champion.
• Andrew Laing, Mountain View 2002 – 4-time state qualifier. 2 IMC doubles titles (1 was in the 90s) and 1 IMC singles title. Reached the state doubles semifinals in 2001.
• Andy Tronson, Mountain View 2004 – 4-time state qualifier. IMC champion in both singles and doubles. Reached the state doubles semifinals in 2004.
• Cody Kohlmoos, Summit 2008 – State doubles title, 3-time state qualifier. IMC champion in singles and doubles.
• Josh Guyer, Summit 2009 – Reached 2 state doubles finals, winning the whole thing as a junior. 3-time state qualifier.
• Ken Vaughan, Mountain View 2001- 4-time state qualifier. 2 IMC singles championships and 1 doubles. Reached the state doubles semifinals in 2001.
• Logan Rau, Crook County 2006 – State quarterfinalist in singles in 2006. IMC singles champion.
• Max Liberty-Point, Summit 2005 – 3-time IMC singles finalist with two IMC-singles championships.
• Paxton Deuel, Summit 2012 – State doubles title as a freshman. Never lost an IMC match
• Ryan Coe, Mountain View 2009 – 3-time state qualifier. IMC doubles champion. 3rd place in state doubles (with Riley Tronson).
• Tyler Walsh, Summit 2009 – 3-time state qualifier, state doubles champion as a junior, state runner-up as a senior. With partner Josh Guyer became the only IMC boys to ever reach two state finals.

Honorable Mention: Pat Wurtz, Bend; Tyrel Love, Bend; Joey Serrapede, Mountain View/Bend; Ian McGrath, Bend; Scott Marshall, Redmond, Sam Thomas, Crook County, Riley Tronson, Mountain View.

Oregon Teams:
• Jesuit 2008 – Can you say loaded? 1 through 12 = good!
• Sprague 2006 – One-two punch of Curt Wheeler and Nick Wales.
• West Linn 2004 – State champs in singles and doubles.

Central Oregon Teams:
• Summit 2009 – IMC champs, 5A state champs. Scored a 5A record 14 points.
• Mountain View 2001 – Tied for 7th at state. One of the deepest teams of the decade for sure.
• Bend 2001 – Tied for 7th at state. Deep with two very good doubles teams

Here are COA’s Professional picks for best of the decade:
ATHLETES
NBA – Kobe Bryant
NFL – Tom Brady
MLB – Barry Bonds
NHL – Nicklas Lidstrom
Golf – Tiger Woods
Tennis – Roger Federer
Cycling – Lance Armstrong
Olympics – Michael Phelps

PRO ATHLETES FROM CENTRAL OREGON
MLB – Jacoby Ellsbury, Madras high
NFL – Ryan Longwell, Bend high
Cycling – Chris Horner
Olympics – Chris Klug, Mountain View

TEAMS
NBA – Lakers/Spurs (tie)
NFL – Patriots
MLB – Red Sox
NHL – Red Wings

The year is almost over and with that comes the end of the first decade of this century. The Associated Press has already named its “Athlete of the Decade.” Here’s the order of finish from the AP vote:
1 Tiger Woods 56 votes
2 Lance Armstrong 33
3 Roger Federer 25
4 Michael Phelps 15
5 Tom Brady 6
6 Usain Bolt 4

Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin the “Best of COA for the Decade.” This will include athletes, teams and events from Central Oregon and Oregon as a whole.