Player's vacation could cost Bulldogs sanctions

Zephyrhills might be banned from the state meet next season if Chris Black's reason for missing this year's event is deemed unacceptable.

By STEVE LEE and KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- The way Chris Hinkle sees it, the Florida High School Activities Association had no business scheduling the Class 2A state tournament during spring break.

Hinkle's doubles partner, Chris Black, planned to join his family for a Lake Tahoe vacation this week. That coincided with the state tourney in Jacksonville.

Black chose the vacation over the FHSAA State Tennis Series. As a result, the FHSAA may levy sanctions against the Zephyrhills boys tennis team next season.

"It's in the state's hands," Zephyrhills athletic director Craig Milburn said. "We'll just have to see what they send us and go from there. I hate to see a whole team punished because of one or two people's decision."

Jack Watford, the FHSAA's director of communications, said Black's vacation doesn't fall under acceptable excuses for not participating in a state series. Those reasons are illness, injury, suspension or any other reason that associate commissioner Ron Allen deems worthy.

"More than likely that (Black's' vacation) would not be considered accceptable," Watford said. "If the school knew that, it's unethical and it potentially denied someone else an opportunity."

Should the FHSAA find Zephyrhills at fault, the program could be fined a minimum of $50, placed on restrictive probation for one year and be barred from the FHSAA State Tennis Series next season.

A decision is expected by June 30.

"It's not anything that's pressing," Watford said.

Hinkle and Black went 14-1 in No. 1 doubles and won the 2A, District 7 championship last week. But Hinkle had his first state appearance cancelled when Black opted for the vacation.

"We weren't like 100 percent positive what day states were, but (Black) had the plans to go on vacation with his family for over a year," Hinkle said. "He went with his family to go skiing."

Milburn said team schedules, as well as dates for state tournaments, are "set a year in advance too, so it's not like nobody knows when it is."

Hinkle, a junior, bears no grudge toward his partner. "I'm not mad at Chris at all," he said. "I really think family is more important sometimes than playing in a state tennis tournament."

Hinkle realizes that all counties do not take spring break at the same time. Still, he wondered why the state series could not have been postponed until after Pasco County schools resumed.

"I put all the blame on the people that set up the tournament," Hinkle said. "Why would they expect us to give up vacation time with our family when you could go to Jacksonville and lose in the first round (of the state competition). What would you do?"

"I don't think the state can be blamed," said Milburn, who feels athletes should commit to playing for their respective teams for as long as a season lasts. "I see no way of them getting around everybody's spring break."

While Hinkle doesn't object to Black's decision, he is disappointed about not playing this week.

"I think me and Chris had a great season together in doubles and I really was looking forward to seeing our competition," Hinkle said. "I was really looking forward to see how we could do."

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