Experience makes the best teacher

Senior tour player Allegra Campos believes her playing benefits the students she teaches.

Raised as a junior tennis player by her father, George Pero, Campos attended the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship, achieved All-American status twice and played professionally for nearly two years before deciding to settle down in Lutz. At the suggestion of her dad, a member of the Dade County International Hall of Fame, Campos registered to take her USPTA teaching certification test. While taking the test at the Saddlebrook Resort, Campos was offered a teaching position there but instead took a job in Cheval's pro shop to be closer to home.

That was 15 years ago. After two other male directors, Campos was hired and has been the director the last eight years.

It was at Cheval that Campos met her future husband, Jose Campos, who was a teaching professional there. Allegra believes it's a bonus for an instructor to be a good player. Players can relate, teachers can empathize and, together, it's a strong, effective relationship that benefits everyone.

Working with the Campos' are Francis Cook as junior coordinator, Raul Fonseca and former junior standout Tu Mai Tran.

LEAGUE NEWS: Westin Innisbrook Resort's 3.5 senior women's team earned its second win in the USA Tennis Florida Senior Doubles League with a 2-1 win over the McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater. Debbie McGinley and Maureen Sternberg scored a two-set victory in No. 1, as did Josie Doucette and Anne Hammond in No. 3. In men's 3.5 senior action, the Phil Green Tennis Academy at Safety Harbor Spa team defeated Innisbrook 3-0 to extend its record to 3-0. Willie Coquelet and Dick Lashley were extended to a third-set tiebreaker in No. 1 by Innisbrook's Malcolm Slive and Jerry McDowell; Ed McGinley and Skip Parker in No. 2 and John Kuhn and Jim Smith in No. 3 both won in straight sets.

JUNIOR RESULTS: Bryan Jowers (16) and Justin Gosetto (18) reached the semifinals in the Pre-Holiday Classic at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. Consolation champions included Nathaniel Palombo (10), Hiro Kohtake (18) and Flavio Russo (18).

CHEVAL'S CLASSIC: Third seed Ryler DeHeart upset top-seeded Danny McCain in a boys 18 semifinal to advance to the men's open final in the Winter Classic at Cheval Country Club in Lutz. In the final, DeHeart beat No. 2 Dongwhee Choi of Bradenton 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. Becky Gordon was a women's open finalist and Brianna Williams reached the women's open semifinal. Consolation winners were Richard Smith in the men's open and Bob Cooke in the men's 35-and-over.

COMING UP: The Phil Green Tennis Academy at Safety Harbor Spa offers its Holiday Classic for adults Friday through Sunday. Call Phil Green, (727) 724-7729, today. ... Seminole Lake Tennis Center hosts its Christmas Classic on Dec. 15-17 for juniors in singles competition. Call Krishnan Anandan, 394-1733, today.

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