Sports

East Lake books return to state tournament

By EMERY SKOLFIELD, CHRIS GIRANDOLA, and JOHN C. COTEY
Published April 22, 2006

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With his teammates packed around Court 1 at the St. Petersburg Country Club, East Lake freshman Matt Herrock landed the knockout blow that punched the Eagles' ticket to next week's Class 3A state championships.

Aware that his victory would secure East Lake's first state berth since 2002, Herrock (14-1) broke the serve of Lakewood's Mike Fronduto to cap a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win and the Eagles' fourth singles point.

"They told me after I split the first two sets that I needed to win," Herrock said. "That pumped me up a lot more."

East Lake junior Fabio Pagani (15-3) earned a victory over Lakewood's Robby Nichols at No. 2 singles, while Greg Reese (No. 4) and Mike Groom (No. 5) also won for the Eagles. Pagani and Herrock, both of whom won district titles this week, teamed for victory at No. 1 doubles.

East Lake, which won a boys state title in 1995 and was runnerup in 2001 and '02, will begin state tournament play Wednesday in Altamonte Springs.

Green Devils' perfection ends

SARASOTA - Down a set and with his team desperate for a singles victory to stay alive, sophomore Aaron Ellison won a protracted struggled with Sarasota Riverview's Andrew Allen at No. 4 to give St. Petersburg a slim hope at the region championship.

Real, real real slim.

With Riverview still needing only one of the two doubles matches to advance to state, Bryan Swartz joined Allen and delivered the knockout punch with a 6-1, 6-2 win that gave the Rams a 5-2 victory and handed the Green Devils their first, and last, loss of the season.

The 6-foot-3 lanky Swartz was the difference maker for the Rams, routing St. Petersburg's No. 2 David Gallauer 6-0, 6-1 in singles then dominating play at the net in doubles.

"He was something," St. Petersburg coach Alan Turnquist said.

Ellison's victory was St. Petersburg's second as Green Devil junior Shay Wali took No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-4.

The Green Devils won't go to state but Wali and Gallauer will since they won No. 1 doubles at districts. Play in singles and doubles individual championships begins Monday in Orlando.

Wali and Gallauer made the semifinals in 2003 as partners and Wali advanced to semifinals in singles action that year.

His brother Alamgir was the last Green Devil to capture a state title, winning singles in 2002.

Show ends for Shorecrest

ST. PETERSBURG - Midway through his doubles match against Tampa Prep at St. Petersburg Racquet Club, a few blocks away from school, Shorecrest senior Brett Apter frantically searched for his cell phone.

"What's wrong?" asked Shorecrest coach Elaine East.

The Chargers had made an incredible comeback against the Terrapins and, now, were poised to pull off an upset over Tampa Prep.

"I'm supposed to be in the first act," shouted a fidgety Apter.

"The first act" was the first dance of the school play, Guys and Dolls, which was scheduled to start at 7:30.

Apter kept playing but, in the end, George Navas and Alex Hallenbeck cruised to victory in the third set, 6-1 to place Tampa Prep in its first state tennis tournament in school history.

Navas began the afternoon, easily winning Tampa Prep's first match of the day over Apter, 6-0, 6-0.

Shorecrest No. 4 Matt Smith won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 before Shorecrest sophomore Michael Kopelman recovered from a one-set deficit to beat Tampa Prep senior Bobby Hernandez, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Those wins kept Shorecrest in the hunt before Tampa Prep clinched the title with two doubles victories.

And, Apter still made it for the first act.

[Last modified April 22, 2006, 01:39:14]

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