Ex-Warhawk rewarded for her sportsmanship

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 15, 2000

Lori Grey always has been a good sport.

Her parents insisted on it. Her coach instilled it. Grey lived it.

Friday, Grey traveled to Newport, R.I., to receive a national sportsmanship award presented by the board of directors of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The presentation coincides with the weekend celebration of the induction of Martina Navratilova. "I had no clue about this award until Maria (Cercone) told me," said Grey, who turned 19 on Thursday. "The Florida Section had nominated me, and later, my parents were called when I was chosen."

Each of the 17 U.S. Tennis Association sections nominated one player to be considered to receive one of the four Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Awards that are given to junior players. "When Lori is on the court, she's very competitive," said Cercone, Grey's coach for the past nine years.

"When she gets off the court, she immediately forgets the match. She's everybody's best friend and roots for everyone."

Attending Seminole High, Grey led the girls team to state titles in 1998 and 1999 while also earning singles state titles. Grey was the Times player of the year for three consecutive years (1997-1999) and the team's most valuable player for three years running.

Recognition for fair play during Grey's early competitive junior years was not unusual. Grey was recognized for outstanding sportsmanship in 1994 at the USTA Zone Team Championships for 14-year-olds and again in 1997 at the USTA National Clay Court Championships for the 16s.

"I have watched Lori compete since she played in the 12-and-under age division," said Doug Booth, executive director of the USTA Florida Section, in a press release. "She is not only an outstanding competitor, but also a wonderful role model for other junior players." Following high school, Grey joined her older sister, Christa, on a scholarship at Georgia.

"Our team had an awesome year," Grey said.

"We won the NCAA championship over Stanford and had four players selected all-American. That was exciting for all of us."

Grey was one of the four all-Americans, only the third Georgia freshman to be selected for both singles and doubles (Palm Harbor's Marissa Catlin was named in 1997). Grey and Catlin finished the season ranked No. 1 in college doubles.

"Lori had a fantastic freshman year," said her mom, Mary Anne, who accompanied her daughter to Rhode Island. "Her success on the tennis courts has been outstanding. Never in our lives did my husband, Bill, or I expect this when both our girls got involved in tennis. We have always encouraged them to be good sports, and we would never put up with poor behavior.

"That's as important to us as their playing success."

FLORIDA OPEN RESULTS: Wesley Chapel's Sukhwa Young led the area's contingent at the 10th annual Bush Florida Open national clay court tournament in Fort Myers. He captured the boys 16-and-under singles title and teamed with Josh Cohen of Lake Mary to reach the quarterfinals of the 18s doubles.

Tiffanie Kalvoda and Kelly Nelson advanced to the round of 16 in the girls 16s, as did Jennifer Dent with Ashley Retlev of Coconut Grove in the girls doubles 16s. Nelson and Laura Ahmes of Sarasota were girls 16s quarterfinalists.

Reaching the round of 32 in singles competition were R.J. Murray in the boys 18s and Brianna Williams, Cristina Lucin and Stacia Fonseca in the girls 16s.

TEAM JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Bugsy Bauer, Patrick Gleason and Marc Sawyer were in Pompano Beach through Thursday competing in the USTA Zone Team Championships for the 14s. Competition includes round robin team singles, doubles and mixed doubles among five teams of 15 girls and 15 boys each. The Florida team is matched up against teams from Texas, Northern California, Pacific Northwest and Southwestern U.S.

The USTA Zone Team Championships for the 12s are July 22-27 in Nashville, Tenn., and includes Christina Liles among the 24 girls and 24 boys representing Florida. The 16s zone event is July 29-Aug. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C., and includes Marc Sawyer.

The USTA Team Florida Challenge is in its second year and includes George Navas among the 20 boys and 20 girls chosen among the 14s. The challenge concluded Thursday in West Palm Beach.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: Courtney Ulery and Rachel Silverberg are in Alpharetta, Ga., this week competing in the USTA National Hard Court Championships for the 12s.

Early entries into the July 16-23 USTA National Clay Court Championships include Sawyer in the boys 14s, Alexandria Liles in the girls 18s, Nelson and Dent in the girls 16s and Bauer in the girls 14s.

ADULT LEAGUE REGIONALS: USA League Tennis regional tournament play begins Friday in Longboat Key for nine local teams. Regional winners advance to the state tournament in August with hopes of qualifying for national championships.

Representing Pinellas County in regional play are teams from East Lake Woodlands (3.0 and 3.5), the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg (4.0) and the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club (4.5) in women's competition.

Feather Sound (3.0), Renaissance Vinoy (3.5), Seminole Lakes Tennis Center (4.0) and Treasure Island Recreation, Tennis and Golf Center (4.5 and 5.0) are entered in men's competition.

SHORT SHOTS: Christopher Kucharski of Clearwater Beach defended his top seeding in the boys 12s of the 2000 Junior Summer Classic at Royal Racquet Club with a 6-4, 6-0 win over No. 2 seed Sonny Kennedy of St. Petersburg.

Palm Harbor's Adel Naser survived a first-set loss to win the boys 16s over Ryan Buchanan of Oldsmar 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. St. Petersburg's Lauren Saltiel won the girls 14s round robin. Palm Harbor's Billy Stagg upset the No. 2 seed in the boys 14s to reach the final with No. 1 seed Stephen Segura of New York. Segura won 6-3, 6-2.

Jeff Davis of St. Petersburg won the men's 40-and-over singles title in the first annual Clay Court Championships in Temple Terrace. Davis defeated Tampa's Brad Welch in straight sets.

COMING UP: The Suncoast Tennis Singles meets at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Safety Harbor Spa. Call Les Spang at 581-2020. ... East Lake Woodlands hosts its ELW Hot Hot Classic for juniors July 22-24. Call the club at 785-2212.

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