With players like Duncan and Hennessey Howell, Jordan Henry, and the Figueroa sisters, Vicksburg High has long had the depth and skill to lay claim as the best high school tennis program in the city. The Gators also have a long line of Julie Abraham Memorial Tournament titles to prove it.

When the 19th JAMT gets underway Friday morning, there could be a changing of the guard.

Vicksburg, St. Aloysius and Warren Central played a series of close matches this spring. Vicksburg split with its crosstown rivals, but coach Kevin Manton said he plans to change his normal lineup in preparation for the state playoffs. The new matchups could lead to vastly different outcomes.

“It’s pretty doggone even all the way around. It depends on where people play people,” Manton said. “It’s going to come down to counting points, and who can sacrifice points here and there.”

Vicksburg, St. Al and WC will start the three-team round-robin tournament Friday morning at 11 at Halls Ferry Park. St. Al beat Vicksburg 4-3 earlier this season, while VHS beat Warren Central 5-2. Those matches came with Christine Figueroa at girls singles, Catherine Figueroa and Grace Ga-as at girls doubles, and top boys player Donald Brown at boys singles for Vicksburg.

Manton, in trying to give some of his players a better chance to go further in the upcoming state tournament, changed that lineup. He plans to make Ga-as and Brown a mixed doubles team, and the Figueroa sisters a girls doubles team.