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Powell, J.D. Floyd Split

MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 19, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Powell and J.D Floyd each had something to celebrate following Thursday's match at the Pasco-Hernando Community College courts.

For the Powell boys, it was a dominant 6-1 triumph, while the Floyd girls pulled off an impressive victory by the same score. Each team improved to 4-3 on the season.

"The boys did awesome. Really, really good," Powell Head Coach T. J. Roberts said. "I couldn't be more proud of them. J.D. Floyd really came out with great sportsmanship. I enjoy playing them."

"We played really hard and we're happy with the outcome," Floyd coach Ryan Johnson said. "It's a big win, especially at the middle of the season.

"We're coming along and playing really hard. It's only our second year and to be winning consistently is exciting."

Tales of two matches

The Lady Panthers (3-4) came into the match minus their top player, Hannah Terlep, who was out of town. That forced a shift in their lineup and the Lady Dolphins took advantage.

Floyd won at all four singles and the top two doubles spots. Grace Parek and Kristine Donnelly, the two top seeds respectively, accounted for three of the victories.

Each won their singles matches by an identical score, 6-0, and took the No. 1 doubles contest, 6-4.

"I feel I played very hard," said Donnelly, an eighth-grader. "I've been doing my net plays better. I'm improving a little bit. I feel proud of the whole team."

Kaleigh Nelson at No. 3 and Mikayla Kennedy at No. 4 also combined for three wins. Nelson took her singles match, 6-1, and Kennedy captured hers, 6-4. They won 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.

"We hope to finish a little over .500," said Johnson, whose girls and boys lost to Powell earlier in the season. "If we don't win, we're always competitive and having fun and learning, most importantly."

Alianna Feliciano and Alycia Rozycki at No. 3 doubles provided the Lady Panthers their only victory, 6-2.

"I think we started off kind of lethargic," Roberts said. "It was hot. We wanted water too much and it didn't work out for us today. I don't take anything away from our team. They played good, but it was too late."

On the boys' side, it was a complete reserve. It didn't help that Floyd (1-6) only has five players and had to forfeit No. 3 doubles.

For the Panthers, Conner Schwefringhaus, Travis Undestad and Chris Jewell each won the top three singles matches by a score of 6-1.

Schwefringhaus and Undestad won 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, while Jewell and Joey Ocasio came out on top at No. 2 doubles, 6-4.

"I think my serve was very good," the sixth-grader Schwefringhaus said. "My volleying wasn't too hot. I'm happy I won.

"Travis is a good player. We play OK. We've won just about every doubles match we've had together. We're both OK and we have good chemistry."

The Dolphins got their one victory at No. 4 singles thanks to Cody Truman, who fought off Ocasio in a 7-4 tiebreaker.

Boys
Powell 6, J.D. Floyd 1
Singles
1. Conner Schwefringhaus (POW) over Frankie Gomez, 6-1.
2. Travis Undestad (POW) over James Leyden, 6-1.
3. Chris Jewell (POW) over Michael Finucare, 6-1.
4. Cody Truman (JDF) over Joey Ocasio, 7-6 (7-4).
Doubles
1. Schwefringhaus/Undestad (POW) over Gomez/Leyden, 6-3.
2. Jewell/Ocasio (POW) over Truman/James Morgan, 6-4.
3. Andrew Nixon/Luke Rabon (POW) won by forfeit.
Records: Powell (4-3), J.D. Floyd (1-6).

Girls
J.D. Floyd 6, Powell 1
Singles
1. Grace Parek (JDF) over Katie Viola, 6-0.
2. Kristine Donnelly (JDF) over Brittney Traudt, 6-0.
3. Kaleigh Nelson (JDF) over Naadirah Austin, 6-1.
4. Mikayla Kennedy (JDF) over Alianna Feliciano, 6-4.
Doubles
1. Parek/Donnelly (JDF) over Viola/Traudt, 6-4.
2. Nelson/Kennedy (JDF) over Austin/Brittany Rossi, 6-0.
3. Feliciano/Alycia Rozycki (POW) over Zara Mumtaz/Lauren Seiler, 6-2.
Records: Powell (3-4), J.D. Floyd (4-3).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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