Coaching carousel features five new coaches

Change is the order of the day – especially with five new faces in the male coaching ranks – in local tennis this season.

There are no guarantees last year's top two programs – Nature Coast Technical's boys and girls squads – remain the class of the county.

Here's a look at the county's programs.

Over the past five seasons, NCT's boys tennis team has been the gold standard locally. Ironically, NCT is the only team that will start the season with the same coach as last year.

The Brooksville netters have captured four district and Hernando County championships in five years – including the past three in a row.

Over that span, Head Coach Tom Brown's troops have captured 66-of-78 (85 percent) matches. Most importantly, Brown's teams have produced 19 district champions and are 3-2 in regional action.

The lone downer is the Sharks are a collective 1-17 lifetime in 18 matches at the state finals.

NCT graduated three starters from its 15-1 squad of a year ago including: Tyler Schwefringhaus at No. 1 singles and doubles, David Cross at No. 2 and No. 1 doubles, and Andrew Lund at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Schwefringhaus, Cross and Lund each captured singles titles at the 2A-5 Tournament at Crystal River.

Back in the fold for the Sharks are seniors Zenon Kouts and Josh Weaver.

Kouts captured the 2A-5 No. 4 singles crown and teamed with Lund for the No. 2 doubles title.

Weaver lost in three grueling sets for the No. 5 singles title during the 2A-5 Meet in Citrus County.

Kouts, the county's defending Player of the Year, is slotted at the Sharks' No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles positions.

According to the seventh-year Shark mentor Brown, look for Weaver to fill No. 2 singles and the other half of No. 1 doubles.

Fresh faces will dot the next three singles position with Connor Schwefringhaus at No. 3, Jessie DeWitt at No. 4 and Aaron Murray at No. 5.

The No. 2 doubles duo is expected to feature Joe Montagnino and Alec Lund.

The expectations are high at NCT, and Coach Brown is not discounting his youthful team of continuing to play at an exceptional level.

"I wouldn't say we're out of it. I have no idea how it will all shake down," said Brown. "Now, if something happens to Zenon (Kouts) that could seriously jeopardize our chances.

"Zenon has been out here almost six days a week for 6-7 hours a day working on his game," noted Brown. "In a year's time he's gone from being a solid player to an elite player. I kind of like the fact that we're starting over as a team. Zenon is our leader and I like our new blood."

The team's lack of overall playing experience at the varsity level, however, could tip the scales.

"Right now, we're real inexperienced at match play," pointed out Coach Brown. "That's really hard to simulate in practice. For our younger guys, the only way they're going to get better is through trial and error on the courts."

On the eve of the season opener, Springstead's team was devastated by the news that its coach, Doug Haskedakes, stepped down Friday morning.

Due to a serious health issue, Haskedakes informed the SHS administration that he could not continue to perform his duties.

In the wake of the Haskedakes' announcement arrived word that former Central High Coach of the Year Joe Nicolai would come out of retirement to guide the fortunes of the Eagles.

Nicolai inherits a Spring Hill-based team on the upswing.

In 2010, Haskedakes took a team that went a combined 1-18 in 2008-09 to a third-place tie in the county and a 4-10 dual-meet mark.

Last spring, the Eagles improved to 8-6 overall, finished as county runners-up and placed third at districts.

This year, SHS returns its entire starting lineup from and added the Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference's finest player – Patrick Deslaurier.

Haskedakes predicted once soccer season was completed that Deslaurier would eventually battle Trevor Whitmill to become the Eagles' No. 2 singles player behind Carl Zee.

Patrick's older brother Hank Deslaurier is penciled in at No. 4 singles while Marcel Leaman will anchor No. 5 singles.

SHS' depth also features Robert Hoover from Powell and Paul Parisi from Challenger.

According to Haskedakes, he believes the Eagles have the personnel on hand to not only challenge NCT for county supremacy, but have enough weapons for a possible district title run.

"We scheduled 17 matches this year. If we don't win at least 12 matches, I'd say the season was a disappointment," said the third-year Haskedakes prior to stepping down. "This team isn't a social club. We get our fun from winning matches."

Haskedakes lamented not seeing this team take its skills to the next level.

"For all the hours I've spent bringing this team to this point, it really hurts to step down," noted Haskedakes. "All I've asked these kids to do is make a commitment to tennis and stick with it. So far, they really have."

For the sixth straight year on the Bell Avenue campus, Hernando High School will feature a new boys tennis coach.

Ken Penn, a former New Jersey track and field prep letterman, becomes the Purple and Gold's seventh mentor in eight seasons.

Penn, who began teaching physical science this year at HHS, welcomes the opportunity.

"I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to prove I could coach something else besides track," said Penn, who has resided in the Florida the past six years. "The toughest thing I see is shaking off the rust and playing with a team."

Penn inherits a Leopard team that finished 6-5 last spring and finished fourth in the 2A-5 Tournament at CRHS.

Sophomore James Ortega, who finished 6-6 last year, is penciled in at the Leopards' No. 1 singles position followed by junior Justin Argoncillo at No. 2. Argoncillo did not play last year.

Penn expects Paolo Llagan to suit up at No. 3 singles and senior Brandon Holcomb to anchor No. 4 singles. Holcomb finished 5-7 last year.

"Our top four players are pretty well-rounded," described Coach Penn. "Their skills are pretty good. But our doubles teams right now are a work in progress.

"I want our guys to go out there and have some fun," said Penn. "And don't worry how other people may judge you."

Veteran Crystal River mentor Bob Croyle remains busy at Weeki Wachee. Besides assisting Mark Lee with the football team and running the boys basketball program, he accepted the gig as WWHS' tennis coach.

Croyle replaces Bryan McCabe, who led the Hornets to a 3-9 slate last spring.

WWHS captured 17-of-66 singles matches (26 percent) but lost their finest player, Garrett Napolitano, who left for Central this year.

Napolitano went 8-5 in the ultra-rugged No. 1 singles positions and teamed with Chris Rosser for a 3-5 slate at No. 1 doubles.

Now, without Napolitano, Rosser will ascend to the critical No. 1 singles position.

According to Coach Croyle, Chandler Ballantine (2-10 in 2011) will man No. 2 singles, while Jason Morton (0-1) will be at No. 3 and Andrew Jensen at No. 4.

"I'm not really worried about how many matches we'll win," explained Coach Croyle. "I hope these kids pick up the skills they need to play this sport for years to come."

Croyle enjoys the team's spirit de corps.

"These kids are so anxious to practice and to get better," he said. "Only problem is once they get the ball into play they get into what's easy for them and that's hitting the ball just hard enough to get it over. They'll never get better playing that way."

Croyle emphasizes that practice makes perfect.

"I don't care how many errors they make. All I want them to do is take good, solid swings," stressed Coach Croyle. "I want our guys to play better by playing tennis points, not just sit there and play ping-pong with a tennis racquet in their hands."

Central High's Pablo Rojo replaces Ryan George as the Bears' head coach.

George's 2011 squad went 0-14 and was blanked eight times.

CHS netters dropped 52-of-62 singles matches and 25-of-27 doubles matches.

Senior Jorgen Christensen, who went 5-7 in singles play, is back. Senior Christian Bures, who went 2-9, is also expected to see plenty of action.

The addition of Napolitano near the top of the Bears' lineup should ease the burden on returning starters Joe Lucky (0-14 in 2011) and Darius Robinson (1-12).

The county's fifth new skipper, Jeff Moore, takes over at Hernando Christian Academy. The Lions are one of 30 schools statewide that plays an independent schedule.

Moore replaces Frank Zayas, who finished 1-8 last year.

The Lions struggled against the much deeper public school programs, dropping 41-of-45 singles matches and 16-of-18 doubles matches.

Over three of the past four seasons, Nature Coast Technical has captured the county championship.

Since 2007, NCT has raised three district championship banners and finished second twice.

The Brooksville netters finished 11-3 last spring and lost Hernando County Player of the Year Kaitlyn Bugden to graduation.

Bugden reached the district finals in four straight years and returned home with three district singles titles.

But the offseason was not kind to the Sharks. The county's top player in winning percentage last year, Rosie Witherell, opted not to return to the tennis courts.

More importantly, NCT's long-time skipper Louise Downey accepted a new job at St. Leo University and could not dedicate the time she has given in the past.

Replacing Louise is her husband John Downey. Downey has served as Louise's "assistant coach" for the past few years.

John Downey was NCT's original boys coach but did not return after 2004-05's combined two-year 4-20 won-lost mark.

Without Louise Downey, Bugden and Witherell, many pundits may forecast a gloomy future for the Lady Sharks.

Seniors Mallorie Pickersgill and Delanie McCabe, however, are both back and will anchor 1-2 singles and No. 1 doubles. McCabe and Pickersgill combined for 25 singles wins last spring.

McCabe/Pickersgill also formed the county's finest doubles duo at No. 1 behind a 10-3 slate.

Junior Christine Sniffen is penciled in at No. 3 singles followed by sophomore Katie Viola at No. 4 and Samantha Hagland at No. 5.

Based on first impressions, Coach Downey was impressed with what he's seen since practice began.

"This group of girls puts in a ton of time into their schoolwork, but they've impressed me with their play since we started.

"Our greatest concern is our depth," lamented Coach Downey. "We're an injury away from lots of trouble. We've got to get our younger girls ready to play. It's going to be hard to overcome the loss of Bugden and Witherell. That weight has to be evenly distributed among all the girls.

"I think we'll be alright," said Mr. Downey. "As long as we stay healthy, we'll be fine."

Hernando High, which finished 6-8 last spring, lost three starters from last year.

Casey Miller graduated last summer, and neither Brigette Weigl nor Chasity Edwards returned to the team this year. Weigl notched the team's finest record behind a 11-3 campaign.

According to sixth-year skipper Pete Lahey, Shelby Marrero begins her third varsity season at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with an HCA transfer, freshman Jada Bergstrom.

Lida Marie Steinkamp will hold down the No. 3 singles while Autumn Smith and Shelby Smith could flip-flop between 4-5 singles.

Expect Steinkamp/Shelby Smith to team up at No. 2 doubles.

"It's a rebuilding year," described Coach Lahey. "We lost a lot, so we've got to rebuild.

"We could be decent, it all depends how quickly this group grows up," added Lahey. "Typically as the season goes, our kids will get better."

Only a few days before the season opener, Lahey remarked on the obvious, "Marrero and Shelby (Smith) are the only girls we have with any experience at this level – that's probably my greatest concern."

It's been nine years since Springstead's girls tennis team collected six wins. Since that time, the Spring Hill netters are on their sixth different coach.

Coach Hank Deslaurier is hoping to improve on last year's 2-12 campaign.

Two of his returning starters, Robyn Coty and Rachel Simone, are currently battling for the No. 5 singles slot.

According to Deslaurier, the Eagles are loaded with a talented crop of freshmen, who will occupy the top four singles positions and No. 1 doubles.

The leader of the pack is Bryn Buckner. She's accompanied by Sabrina Impreso and Sara Guerrero.

"My first impression of this group is we're going to be pretty tough," declared Deslaurier. "I'm telling you these girls could rival some of the best Central teams I've ever seen. I honestly think we can go toe-to-toe with Central right now and give Nature Coast a run for their money."

Deslaurier was most impressed with how easily the team was bonding with so many new players involved.

"The team chemistry is amazing," said Deslaurier. "We have no juniors. Our kids are all sophomores or freshmen. They're all good students, too.

"My biggest concern at this point is the difference of playing at the middle school level compared to the varsity level," he added. "It's a big step. All these girls are capable of making the adjustment."

Central High, which finished 5-7 last year, returns three starters from last season: juniors Danielle Daly, Brittany Blackburn and Jordan Stenholm.

Joining Head Coach Sonya Burns' fifth team is talented foreign exchange student Annegret Schewe, Nicole Carrier, Jordyn Brunetti, Amber McDow and Sara Leguire.