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Hernando Today

The Choice Isn't Easy

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: June 9, 2008

Decisions, decisions.

Choices are never easy especially when you're a talented multi-sport student/athlete.

Take the case of Challenger K-8's Mallorie Suzanne Pickersgill.

In an era of sports specialization, does the Challenger K-8 eighth grader continue to follow her passion -- soccer -- next fall in her new digs, Nature Coast Technical?

Or does she continue her meteoric rise along the junior tennis circuit for the Lady Sharks?

For now, the answer is simple. She plans to compete in both varsity venues on the California Street campus.

Pickersgill: 101

Mallorie, 14, is the older of two daughters to Brooksville's Bill and Carol Pickersgill.

The 5-foot-4 Pickersgill was born in St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and has resided in Hernando County her entire life.

To understand Mallorie one has to accept the fact that besides carrying above a 3.80 grade point average at Challenger K-8, she enjoys soccer and tennis.

On the pitch, she's a talented midfielder for Under-14 Brooksville Raid.

"I love soccer," expressed Pickersgill. "But when you break it down, you might touch the ball for five minutes in an entire match. As an individual, you really don't get the ball that much."

And tennis?

"In tennis, you constantly hit the ball, you're constantly in the match," said Pickersgill. "It's more 1-on-1, maybe that's why I like it so much."

On the tennis courts, Pickersgill graduated from the Navigators program setting the school record of 15 wins in singles play and 16 in doubles action -- across the past three seasons.

More importantly, it's how she got better.

As a sixth grader, she struggled like her teammates under first-year Head Coach Brett Teitelman.

The 2-6 Navigators didn't strike much fear into their opponents finishing 2-6 overall -- with both nods over Fox Chapel.

Pickersgill mirrored her team's struggles going 1-7 in singles action. Fortunately, she fared a little better in doubles play finishing 4-4.

After her first season on the courts, there was literally no off-season. Pickersgill regularly took tennis lessons and became a gym rat or court rat. You'd literally have to run her off the courts.

With the extended practice, the return on her investment slowly began to pay off.

As a seventh grader in 2007, Pickersgill helped guide the Navigators to a turnaround 6-1 campaign. Challenger may have won the Hernando County Middle School Conference title outright, but was ambushed in the return meeting against Parrott, 6-1. As a result, both teams tied for the county crown.

Pickersgill's resurgence included a stand-up-and-look-at-me 7-0 won-lost slate in singles and a much improved 5-1 combined mark in doubles.

Not settling for the second-year success, Pickersgill continued to hone her skills.

This year, she showed 2007 was no fluke repeating with a perfect 7-0 mark at No. 1 singles and an outstanding 7-0 slate with partner Tori Hattaway at No. 1 doubles.

Unanimous POY choice

Pickersgill's emergence did not go unnoticed. Area coaches and the Hernando Today staff not only selected her a repeat All-County all-star this year, but she was also a unanimous choice as Player of the Year.

"Being Player of the Year is a pretty big deal," replied Pickersgill. "I've worked hard. I like being the best."

"Look, Mallorie could beat some boys right now," smiled Powell's Head Coach T.J. Roberts. "She's that good. It's not just me, our kids were very impressed with Pickersgill."

"She's a committed tennis player," added West Hernando skipper Cheryl Paradis. "The thing I like most? She plays her game and she has very basic strokes. When you look at her you see she's really worked at her game. And I marvel at her consistency on the court."

"In three years, she's turned into the best junior tennis player in the county," admitted Coach Teitelman. "She's a tremendous soccer player, too. But I think her future will be on the tennis courts. She's one of those rare kids you're lucky to have as a coach."

How's Mallorie's relationship with Teitelman?

"He always motivated me," she described. "He's not afraid to tell me if I'm doing something wrong. We had a great team. We almost came in too overconfident. A lot of it has to do with having a great coach."

Any scares?

"I had one I remember," recalled Pickersgill. "It was against West Hernando's (Delaine) McCabe. It was one of those really windy days and I wasn't feeling particularly well.

"I remember starting out real slow and I remember the score at one point was 3-2," she added. "At that point, I just got mad at myself. I got frustrated and finally started hitting the ball like I could. I won 6-2, but it was a lot closer than the final score."

From middle school to NCT

What about the upcoming transition to NCT next fall?

"You know we're zoned for Hernando High," she said. "But Nature Coast is a better school. It has an Allied Health program that I want to take. I see myself in the future as a physician's assistant."

What does she want to improve on?

"I still need to work a lot more," replied Pickersgill. "Now, my serve is 10 times better than what it was three years ago, but it can get better. And my footwork has come a long way."

What can the local fans expect?

"I'm looking forward to making both teams (soccer, tennis)," she said. "I don't really know what to expect. I do know academically, there will be a lot more studying. And I realize it'll be a lot harder competition in high school."

At this stage, it's safe to assume Pickersgill will eventually find her niche on the courts...and on the pitch.

By the Numbers: Challenger K-8's Mallorie Pickersgill
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

Singles
Year W L .PCT
2006 1 7 .125
2007 7 0 1.000
2008 7 0 1.000
TOTALS 15 7 .682

Doubles
Year W L .PCT
2006 4 4 .500
2007 5 1 .833
2008 7 0 1.000
TOTALS 16 5 .762

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com

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