Wolverine...uhh...Terp finishes career in style

George Navas, who signed with Michigan, qualified for the state tournament for the second straight season.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published May 26, 2006

TAMPA - George Navas has been waiting for nearly a year to finish his high school career.

Not that the 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior is unhappy going to Tampa Prep. It's just that Navas, who signed with Michigan in August, is really excited about joining a young, gifted Wolverines squad this fall.

"There are a lot of expectations for (Michigan tennis) next year," Navas said. "We don't lose anybody from this year's team, and there are three players, including myself, who are coming in.

"We expect some big things."

Navas - notice he said "we" when referring to the Wolverines - will join a team that went 13-12 and reached the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament with three juniors, a sophomore and four freshmen.

"My main goal for the next three or four years is to make Michigan a top 10 team year in and year out," he said. "It would be awesome to win a national championship as well."

Last season, Navas, a resident of Belleair in Pinellas County, became the first Terps boy to qualify for the state tournament. There, he won the Class A overall singles title, defeating Saddlebrook Prep's Dominic Pagan 6-2, 6-0 in the final.

Navas, ranked No.20 in the nation among players 18 and younger by the United States Tennis Association, returned to state this past season but was joined by his teammates. The Terps beat Shorecrest 5-2 in the region final for their first state berth.

"It was awesome having my teammates there with me," Navas said. "Being there alone isn't really the same. It's almost like it's just a regular tournament."

Although Navas failed to repeat (he had two set points in the first but lost 7-5, 6-3 to Bradenton Prep's Alberto Gonzalez in the No.1 singles final), he said the loss was one of his greatest moments at Tampa Prep.

"It was rough not winning, but it was a good moment for me personally," he said. "Just the idea that it was my last match at Tampa Prep and I would be graduating soon made it special."

Navas, who will study business at Michigan, said he doesn't know what will be expected of him during his first year in Ann Arbor. But the uncertainty doesn't seem to bother him much.

"I just want to go in and compete," he said. "I want to contribute right away. I think I can help the team immediately, especially in doubles."

[Last modified May 26, 2006, 00:51:15]