No need to worry as Bears dispatch HCAC foes

Central's boys and girls easily take conference titles.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published April 12, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - All day, Central boys coach Hank Deslaurier sat in his portable classroom and thought about the Hernando County Athletic Conference finals later that afternoon. And, all day, his players laughed at him.

"I was stressing about it," Deslaurier said. "The guys were coming by and saying, "Coach, what are you worried for?' "

Turns out, his players were correct.

Tony Bulso was the only Central boys player who did not win a singles title at the HCAC Championship Tuesday, but even he had reason to smile as the Bears' boys and girls swept through their county competition with relative ease.

"It feels good," said Bulso, who lost at No. 1 singles to Springstead senior Clay Etchinson, but teamed with Kyle Staton to win at No. 1 doubles. "The team concept is great."

The boys were without normal No. 1 player John McDonald, who was attending freshman orientation at the Air Force Academy, where he will attend next year.

Still, Central registered wins in four of the five singles matches. Kyle Staton won at No. 2, Shawn Wilson won at No. 3, Jon Hayes won at No. 4, and Mike Paulter, who had played just two singles matches all year, won at No. 5.

Etchinson, meanwhile, won his first HCAC title for Springstead.

"It was nice, but I kind of wish John (McDonald) was here so I could play the real No. 1," said Etchinson, who has lost to McDonald twice this year.

On the girls side, Central's Jeanette McDonald, Irene Cho and Alexa Burns won at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. McDonald and Cho also teamed to win at No. 1 doubles. Nature Coast had two individual winners: Sara Paradis at No. 3 and Anna DeAngelis at No. 5.

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 01:07:16]