By Kyle LoJacono
Two years ago the Wiregrass Ranch girls tennis team made the state tournament for the first time in program history, but could not get past districts last season.
The early exit has spurred the returning Bulls (8-2) to redouble their efforts, and two freshmen have added new talent to the squad looking to get back to the postseason.
“I’ve been practicing since the end of last season because I want the team to go really far this year,” said senior Leilani Cubero. She then added, “I think states is a possibility. I’m very confident in our team. I’ve seen how we all play, and I think we can go far.”
Fellow senior Jordanyné Fye was on the team with Cubero that reached states, and said the current squad is similar to the one that made a deep playoff run two years ago.
“I feel like we’re a step above last year,” Jordanyné said. “We’ve got three seniors in the top five, so we know what to expect. We’re helping the freshmen so they know they can do it and we can do it to get past districts.”
Freshman Star Makarome is a big reason Wiregrass Ranch has confidence. The 5-foot phenom is the Bulls No. 1 player, winning all five of her singles matches while dropping only one game. She has helped replace last year’s top player Hannah Still, who is playing at Huntingdon College in Alabama on scholarship.
Makarome announced her presence on Pasco County’s tennis scene on March 8 when she won 6-0, 6-0 against three-time state qualifier from Zephyrhills’ Sarah Vande Berg, who has lost only two regular season singles matches the last two years.
Makarome plays many national junior tournaments. She said she enjoys the team format in high school tennis.
“I just go out and try to have fun,” said Makarome, who started playing around age 4. “Tennis is such an individual sport, but in high school you get to have a team. Here you get to cheer people on. … I don’t have any sisters, so I think of the team as my sisters. They’ve made the experience really fun. I love them all.”
Also adding youth is freshman Tiffany Garner.
“The older girls have been really welcoming,” Garner said. “A lot of times freshmen get treated badly in high school, but on this team they don’t care.”
Third-year Bulls coach Jewell Fye, Jordanyné’s mother, is thrilled for the future of the program.
“Two freshmen, No. 1 and No. 4, and they’re both great additions to the team,” Jewell said. “We really needed that after losing Hannah. I’m really excited about what they can do.”
Makarome has given Wiregrass Ranch a strong punch at the top, but it’s the overall depth of the Nos. 1-5 that gives the Bulls a chance in every match.
“You need to have a strong one through five,” Jordanyné said. “One cannot carry the match for the team. Even if you lose one, the others are there to back them up.”
The team’s depth is illustrated by the fact that Makarome has only been able to play in half of the team’s matches while working around her national tennis schedule. When she cannot attend her teammates play one spot above their normal rankings, giving them experience against tougher players while still winning consistently.
Only nondistrict Pasco and the Academy of the Holy Names have beaten Wiregrass Ranch, and both losses were 4-3.
The success has given the Bulls confidence playing in Class 4A-District 5, a grouping with five Hillsborough County schools. Wiregrass Ranch beat district rival Newsome, a team that has made the playoffs three of the last four years, 5-2 in the fourth match.
The win against the Wolves mixed with improvement in practice has the Bulls excited for the 4A-5 tournament.
“I think we can do really well,” Makarome said. “We’ve been working on our weaknesses and getting better every day. If we keep doing that and play hard we should all do really well.”
Newsome hosts the 4A-5 meet at Riverhills Golf & Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Parkway in Valrico, April 2-3.
