CLEARWATER - This time last year, Countryside freshman Kevin Kunnen was preparing for his first season of junior varsity baseball.
When he learned the school wouldn't field a JV team, he returned to tennis, a game he played for a while before taking a three-year break from the game. He picked it back up quickly, and it paid off with a 6-2, 6-4 rout of Hillsborough's Brendan McKey in the Class 3A region finals at McMullen Tennis Complex on Friday, the only win for the Cougars in a 6-1 loss.
The match was played under a blazing sun that had both players worn early.
"I got worn down," Kunnen said. "I needed to get more consistent and I was losing my endurance. I just had to close it out early."
Hillsborough won the other four singles matches. After the singles matches, Countryside forfeited both doubles matches since Hillsborough's Roshen Patel, a top doubles player, was traveling to visit potential medical schools and Countryside coach Art Kohlmann wanted to make sure Patel didn't miss the state tournament.
Kimble McKay, Dilip Namath, Andrew Simon, and Ravi Lakdawala won their singles matches in straight sets to lead Hillsborough.
Jesuit can't hold lead
For many years Jesuit has been a regular at the state tennis tournament, but this year the Tigers will be absent when the Class 2A state championships begin Tuesday at Hillsborough Community College.
The Tigers lost 4-3 at Lake Wales in the regional final.
Jesuit, which won its 12th consecutive district title Tuesday, appeared in control on Friday with a 3-2 lead after singles play.
In the final set of the No. 2 doubles match Jesuit led 5-4 and was on serve before losing the game. Jesuit lost three match points in the final set before the Highlanders fought back to win the set and the match.
- THE LEDGER
Durant falls 5-2
Valrico-Durant's season ended when the Cougars were defeated by Dr. Phillips High of Orlando 5-2 in regional play. Dr. Phillips moves on to the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A state tournament.
The match started out well for Durant as Shaun Young defeated Laurent Minguez 6-0, 6-0, behind a serves and outstanding net play.
"I wanted to get up on him early," Young said. The USTA 17th-ranked Florida 18-year-old, heading for the University of Florida in the fall, felt his experience served him well.
"I think the fact that I have experienced state tournament pressure helped me today."
Young, last year's Class 3A singles state champion, will travel to the state meet with his doubles partner, Brian Walsh.
- JIM REESE
Kluger clinches win
HUNTERS GREEN - Wharton led 3-1 after four singles matches and clinched the victory against Winter Haven when Adam Kluger beat Drew Hollis.
Wharton's Michael O'Rourke beat Marc Dull, who entered the match 19-0.
Konstantin Lazarov, the No. 1 player for Wharton, had a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Mark Netlow.
