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Crystal River takes title behind Lavoie

The top Pirate wins when it matters, beating Bret Feldman for the first time in three meetings.

CRYSTAL RIVER - Crystal River junior Chris Lavoie pumped his fist, hollered "Yeah!" and took a gigantic breath. Across the net Lavoie's friend, Citrus senior Bret Feldman, tugged on the bill of his cap and looked toward the ground.

This was Lavoie's day.

After losing to Feldman twice during the regular season, the Crystal River standout won when it counted most, claiming the Class 2A, District 6 title - his third straight - Tuesday at No. 1 singles 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.

"Since the last time (Feldman) beat me, I worked every single day to get better," Lavoie said. "I came out and I wanted to win."

For Lavoie, that was just the start. He later teamed with freshman Brian DeMontfort to win at No. 1 doubles, sparking the Pirates to the district championship. Crystal River finished with 16 points. Lecanto (12) was second, followed by Citrus. The Pirates also got singles titles from DeMontfort (No. 2) and Danny Price (No. 4). Price and Tyler Cummings were the champions at No. 2 doubles.

"This was big," Pirate coach Vicki Browning said. "The kids played well and did everything I asked. They played like champions."

Lavoie (15-4) and Feldman (17-1) went back and forth for two sets, but Lavoie took control in the third. Feldman, trailing 0-40 in the final game, rallied to deuce but couldn't pull it out. Feldman returned strong after missing most of 2003 when he was ruled ineligible because he switched schools in the middle of the year.

"It hurts," Feldman said. "I thought I was well-focused. I just think Chris played a great game."

Lavoie certainly felt for his pal.

"I was happy, but at the same time I know Bret works extremely hard," Lavoie said. "We've been playing forever."

If there was ever a year for the Lecanto girls seven-year streak to end this should have been it.

Two weeks ago, Lecanto's No. 1 singles player, Nisha Shah quit the team.

"This wouldn't have even been close had she been here because everyone would had been playing in the positions that they normally play at," first-year coach Karen Dickson said.

But the Panthers still squeaked out their eighth consecutive 2A-6 title by a point over Crystal River.

"All thanks to (Ocala) West Port, who played as well as they did to allow us to win," said Dickson, whose Panthers won two matches against Crystal River to West Port's three. "They beat more Crystal River girls then we did."

Lecanto won with 14 points, Crystal River took second with 13 and West Port, in its first district competition, was third with 10.

Lecanto's Shreya Rao won the No. 1 singles and a trip to state with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 against Elizabeth DeRevere of Crystal River.

"The beginning was a little bit rough because I was nervous, but I just pulled it together and started thinking about each point instead of the whole game," Rao said. "Usually district isn't too big of a deal for our team because we usually dominate but we really had to go out and play our best."

Lecanto also won with No. 2 seed Ashley Campbell, No. 3 seed Sireesha Bellam and No. 2 doubles Campbell and Bellam.

Crystal River's Jillian and DeRevere won the No. 1 doubles and Shana Roopani earned her first district title at No. 5.

"We played extremely well," Crystal River coach Richard Tangeman said. "Most people would have thought we would have a long way to go to get within one point of winning."

- DAWN REISS