Pinellas coach of the year

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published May 27, 2006

COACH OF THE YEAR: ALAN TURNQUIST, ST. PETERSBURG

When it comes to coaching, those that make the county's best tennis players, well, the best, are usually not the same coaches that run their high school team.

Those would be the private coaches and the local pros at the local tennis centers.

But St. Petersburg's Alan Turnquist tries his best to change that image.

When it comes to team depth, no one has more than Turnquist, who works harder on his players at No. 4 and 5 than he does the team stars, and prides himself on always having his reserves ready for action. He is a stickler for conditioning, and at the district and regional tournaments could be seen moving from court to court, stressing the mental aspect of the game to his players.

His teams at St. Petersburg have dominated in recent years, collecting PCAC and district titles like a ball boy chases down net serves at the U.S. Open. The 2006 Green Devils were no exception.

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS TENNIS TEAM

FIRST TEAM

PLAYER YR. SCHOOL COMMENT

Lindsay Dvorak So. St. Petersburg Undefeated in county, second straight year

Ashley Hood Jr. St. Petersburg Unbeaten in singles; won doubles district

Tara Vafadari Jr. East Lake Won districts, regions; 14-2; led team to state

Caitlein Jammo Sr. St. Petersburg 13-0; won district in singles and doubles

Morgan Basil 8 Shorecrest Qualified for state singles, third straight year

SECOND TEAM

Kaitlin Holdstein, Sr., St. Petersburg

Linda Yang, Sr., PHU

Ladina Badraun, Sr., Dunedin

Dalila Chiadmi, Jr., Seminole

Danielle Yarn, Sr., Seminole

Simone Berger, Sr., Lakewood

Kelly Carlstin, East Lake

HONORABLE MENTION

Ashley Farina, Rebekah Hammond; East Lake - Jennifer Loftus, Carly Gilchrist; Lakewood - Jessica Cox, Kim Buille; Northside Christian - Samantha Melby, Allura Gabay, Mary Smith; Osceola - Jen Floyd; Palm Harbor U. - Sabrina Taldone, C. Koral; St. Petersburg - Jasmyn Smith; Seminole - Leanne Yarn.

[Last modified July 24, 2006, 13:57:48]