 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Wildcat, Gator duos fall short
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer WESLEY CHAPEL -- Four-time district singles champion Cristina Lucin missed out on her last shot for a state championship. She also came up short along with partner Paula Clausnitzer in their fourth opportunity for a state doubles title. Thursday, Wesley Chapel coach Julie Marks said she prefered to talk about Lucin's sportsmanship rather than her competitiveness. "She just has a good attitude," Marks said, noting Lucin was not irate like others who lost in the tournament. "For her, it's not a life or death situation. She was like, "I learned a lot."' Lucin, Wesley Chapel's valedictorian who will attend West Point, dropped to 19-1 with her 6-1, 7-5 loss to Orlando Bishop Moore's Natalie Arcario in the semifinals. She won the district singles championship as a freshman at Land O'Lakes and the past three championships at Wesley Chapel. Marks also complemented Clausnitzer for her effort in a doubles semifinals loss. "She doesn't think she belongs with those girls, but she went out there and did her very best," Marks said. "I told her, "You know what? You belong with them because you made it to states."' Land O'Lakes' No. 1 doubles team of Marcela Argollo and Kelly Jackson lost in the quarterfinals. Argollo lost in the No. 1 singles quarterfinals as well. Argollo, a junior foreign exchange student from Brazil, finished 16-3 in singles. Jackson, a junior who played at No. 1 singles for Land O'Lakes before Argollo's arrival, made her first state appearance thanks, in part she said, to her new teammate. "I thought she was very good, the best we ever had on our team," Jackson said. Paired as doubles partners during preseason practices, Jackson and Argollo went 16-1, losing only in the state quarterfinals. "We just kind of clicked," Jackson said. "I was more aggressive at the net, and she had a great serve. "Hitting with people better than you helps a lot."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
