Jesuit 'perfectionist' is a work in progress

By KEITH NIEBUHR

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 8, 2000

TAMPA -- After winning the individual title at this spring's Class 2A state tennis tournament in Jacksonville, Jesuit's Ryler DeHeart did what any self-respecting perfectionist would have done.

He tore apart his swing.

"Right now, I'm working on my forehand," DeHeart said. "I'm changing it. I've have some problems with it, and if I want to move up to the next level, I have to change it."

If DeHeart's problematic forehand slowed him in 2000, it is doubtful anybody noticed. As a sophomore, he lost one singles match the entire season and helped lead Jesuit to a second-place finish at state.

DeHeart, 16, claimed the state singles title with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win over Miami Gulliver Prep's David Goldman, a senior.

For that, DeHeart is the Times All-Hillsborough County Male Tennis Player of the Year.

"I even surprised myself," DeHeart said.

DeHeart's teaching professional, Carrollwood Golf & Tennis Club director of tennis Steve Smith, was among those not surprised by DeHeart's success.

"Even though the level of tennis in Florida is highly regarded, he's playing against a lot of players that don't have complete games," Smith said. "Ryler, even though he still needs to develop defensive aspects of his game, is one of the small percentage of players playing all over the court.

"His strength is that he plays a multifaceted game and uses all three zones of the court."

If anybody knows DeHeart's game, it is Smith.

In 1994, Smith, then teaching in Michigan, was introduced to DeHeart by a former student, Tomas Ollestad, who was DeHeart's instructor at the time. DeHeart sent videotapes of his matches to Smith, who returned them with narrative critiques.

Two years ago, Smith moved to Tampa, and the two now meet almost daily.

"I would say Ryler is extremely coachable," Smith said. "He's very mature for his age. I don't think he gets lost in success like a lot of kids do.

"He knows that to get to another level, he has to continue improving his technique."

For now, that means improving his forehand.

"He's not arrived with his forehand," Smith said. "All of his skills need to improve, and he knows that."

The classroom is one area DeHeart needs little improvement.

He carries a 4.33 grade point average. "He's on pace to be able to play at a high-caliber Division I school, both academically and tennis-wise," Smith said.

In preparation for next season and beyond, DeHeart practices six hours a day. He has even hired a personal trainer to better prepare his 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame for future battles.

Last week, DeHeart won his second 64-person South Florida tournament in a row. He will play in three or four national events this summer in hopes of improving his No. 96 national ranking in the USTA 16-and-under division.

"I'm trying to plan for the future," DeHeart said.

"I guess I am a perfectionist."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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