Lincoln East, a USTA organizational member, has won the Nebraska title for six straight years. The squad broke a 42-year-old record held by Omaha Creighton Prep from 1947-1951.

Jeff Hoham, a composition lab teacher, has coached the boys for seven years. East’s record is 88-3.

Hoham says they have only been picked once in six years to win the state title, and there’s no pressure for 1994.

Millard South High School, runner-up the last four seasons, returns most of its players.

"They’ll be the favorite," Hoham says.

But he is optimistic. "All of our players are returning except Chad Van Horn. We’ve added consistency… I firmly believe that the only thing that can stop us is ourselves."

Practice began the second week of August. The state championship is the third week of October at Dewey Park in Omaha.

The squad’s 1993 theme of "Team Before Self" was appropriate when No. 1 player Chad Van Horn suffered a near fatal asthma attack before the season. He was in a coma for eight hours.

"The last thing on my mind was that he was never ever going to play," Hoham says.

Van Horn not only played but finished the season undefeated, beating Ryan Fuhrer in the state finals.

"To cycle through all that adversity and play through that, they are a remarkable team," Hoham says.

Every year has had its adventures.

At the 1988 tournament, East’s Andy Stock broke his arm in a physical education flag-football game the day before the state tournament. Hoham substituted his No. 8 player, Mark Dynek, who, with Rick Stempson, went all the way to third place.

Also, the team won that year without any individual champions. The state tournament consists of No. 1 and No.2 singles and doubles draws.

"One thing I’ve always preached is if we win the team trophy, everybody’s the champion," Hoham adds.

In 1991 East’s Mark Jones won a 2 1/2 hour final with a third-set tie-breaker for East’s first No. 1 singles title.

During their "strive for five" in 1992, Millard South came within one point of winning the title when it held two match points in a doubles semifinal.

Hoham says in 1993 most of Millard South’s players had higher Missouri Valley rankings than East’s players, but East prevailed. One of East’s doubles teams saved four match points during the team final run.

Hoham attributes much of the success to mental preparation.

"We work year-round on mental toughness," says Hoham, who has a degree in psychology. "We work extensively on their minds, rituals… They have no fear of failure, so there’s not that much pressure on them. We play simulated matches. They want to be the one returning or serving at match point."