St. Petersburg Times Online: Sports
TampaBay.com
Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather
tampabay.com

printer version

Tennis extra

By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 23, 2002


Charging to the top

Shorecrest coach John Haggar is understandably excited when talking about his boys team. Not only are the Chargers 10-1 coming off spring break, but they are also loaded with underclassmen.

Top player Christian Yepes is a sophomore who has lost once, to Canterbury senior Marc Sawyer. No. 2 Jon Bonner is a freshman. The No. 3 player is junior Jared Abelman and No. 4 is Ben Olsen, the only senior on the team. The fifth player is Cain Soltoff.

Together, the Chargers have blown past district opponents. Their only loss was to Berkeley Prep. Usually, Canterbury is the top team in Class A, District 9. But Shorecrest is changing that this season.

"They can go pretty far," Haggar said. "We can go nine deep, and any of our top three can beat each other on a given day. We should win districts, and then hopefully we'll get to states."

States could be tough. The one-day regional tournament will likely include Bradenton Academy, which is affiliated with the Nick Bollettierri Tennis Academy.

Speaking of Shorecrest

Senior Kelly Nelson has a modest goal this season. She hopes to win every game in district play. So far, Nelson is a perfect 11-0 and has won 88 consecutive games against district opponents.

Nelson is also undefeated in doubles with teammate Monica Sly. Nelson will play in the National Easter Bowl Tournament in April in Palm Springs, Calif.

Streaking again

Seminole's girls team is at it again. The Warhawks are 11-0 heading into spring break and lead the Pinellas County Athletic Conference North Division.

Seminole holds the county record with 148 consecutive conference wins from 1991-2001. That streak ended last season in a loss to Countryside.

This year's streak will likely be in jeopardy April 3 when Seminole takes on Countryside again. The Cougars, 2001 state champions, are also 11-0.

The Warhawks have been led this season by Amanda Yogus, Desiree Collins, Courtney Koch, Katy Kiernan and Mandy Erbe.

Taking a break

Public schools will be off next week, so no matches are scheduled. When play resumes April 1, only four matches remain as teams make their runs at a PCAC championship.

Back to Sports

Back to Top

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111
Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright
 

From the Times sports desk

John Romano
  • Guards put on a rare show

  • College basketball
  • Magic belongs to Huskies
  • Gators shocked as women's coach resigns
  • Terps overpower Kentucky
  • Kansas turns to newfound toughness
  • Promising freshman is dismissed by USF
  • Kent State is a bad memory for Indiana
  • Davis making his own mark at IU
  • S. Alabama names UF's Pelphrey

  • Golf
  • Mickelson defends all or nothing play
  • Quite a return on top

  • Et cetera
  • Charges against Selmon dropped
  • British crew wins Fireball world title

  • Baseball
  • Area camps

  • Outdoors
  • Daily fishing report

  • Preps
  • Wildcats, Bulldogs win titles
  • Association suspends umpire
  • Central still can't pull off upset
  • Pasco rips Hudson again
  • Who's the Saladino favorite?
  • This time Leopards protect lead
  • Girls basketball senior all-star game
  • Tennis extra
  • Spring break baseball tournaments
  • Time to live up to hype
  • 2002 Knights ditch losing tradition

  • Rays
  • Movie gives Rays publicity
  • Grieve seeks rebound from '01

  • Bucs
  • With receiver Poole, Bucs get back some lost speed

  • Lightning
  • Last-gasp goal nets a point for Montreal
  • Emphasis on team even on Nik night
  • Svitov might miss even more time


  • From the wire

    From the state sports wire
  • Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
  • FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
  • Brown anxious to face old team for first time
  • Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
  • Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
  • Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
  • No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
  • FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts