Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

High school teachers or coaches can attest top students or athletes are few and far between, so kids like Zephyrhills High junior Sarah Vande Berg come around as often as Halley’s Comet.

Vande Berg has been the No. 1 player on the Bulldogs tennis team since her freshman year. Last year, she helped the program win the first district championship since 1999 and has also qualified individually and as a doubles team for the state tournament as a sophomore and junior.

“She’s definitely my leader,” said six-year Zephyrhills girls tennis coach Lorraine Hinkle. “She cheers on the other girls and is always at practice. I’ll miss her after next year.”

Vande Berg started playing the game around age 6, picking up the game because her father Todd played recreationally. She puts in about 20 hours of practice and workouts in the gym along with another 10-15 hours playing in high school matches and competitive tournaments around Tampa Bay.

The 5-foot-9 Vande Berg has posted an 11-1 record individually this regular season, losing only to River Ridge’s Tijana Subotic in three sets.

Vande Berg is not just limited to success on the court, posting a 4.1 weighted grade point average. Generally she does not finish with tennis each day until about 7:45 p.m. Mix in two or three tournaments each month and there is little time left for homework.

“It’s hard and it’s taken years of practice to be able to manage everything,” Vande Berg said. “You have to find time during the day to get things done. During lunch or if there’s a break in another class, I do homework or study. I just have to find some time.”

If it is hard to find time for homework, there is even less for other things.

“I don’t have any free time,” Vande Berg said. “If I had more time I’d probably just hang out with friends. I never get to do that outside of school.”

Hinkle says Vande Berg’s drive is what keeps her pushing to get better every day.

“I’ve never seen anyone with her focus,” Hinkle said. “All of my girls have always wanted to do well, but Sarah is different. Chelsea Smith last year was very focused, but not like Sarah.”

Smith was Vande Berg’s doubles partner last year, but has since graduated. She now pairs with freshman Sydney Owens.

“Just watching Sarah is a big help for me,” Owens said. “Watching the way she goes after every point and is always working at practice to get better. It’s really amazing to see.”

Vande Berg has been focusing on her fitness during the last year to become an even better player.

“Zephyrhills is kind of a small town,” Vande Berg said. “It’s hard to get noticed for tennis and I want to make it someplace bigger. There have been times when I’d like to just go take a nap, but I know I have the chance to make something out of myself and hard work is what will get me there.”

She added her coaches deserve a lot of credit for her improvement, and also gives thanks to her high school competition.

“The other girls have pushed me to get better,” Vande Berg said. “There are a lot of good players and it makes me work harder. Players like Hannah Still from Wiregrass Ranch and Subotic from River Ridge.”

Vande Berg said her main goal with tennis is to get a college scholarship.

“I might try to go pro after that,” Vande Berg said. “I’m not sure about playing professionally, but I know I want to go get my education first. The goal is to go for premed and then go to med school. If I can get through that alive then maybe I’ll try, but that’s not the first plan.”

Vande Berg lost in the first round of the Class 2A singles tournament last year and in the second round of doubles. Her quest for a state championship begins April 20 in Sanford.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch boys tennis team has reached the regional tournament the last four years and several key additions helped the 2011 squad reach states for the first time.

The Bulls defeated Mainland 4-2, giving them the regional championship and sending them to the Class 3A finals.

“We’re going there with the outlook of we want to win it,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Dave Wilson. “We’re not just going for the ride.”

The decisive point was earned when the Bulls’ No. 1 doubles team of Spencer Ong and Courage Okungbowa won 6-2, 6-3. It was some order of revenge, as it was Mainland who knocked out Wiregrass Ranch 4-3 in last year’s regional finals.

“It feels really good,” said Okungbowa, who is undefeated in singles play this year. “I’m really looking forward to states.”

The regional championship is the third for Wiregrass Ranch this year, following the boys and girls cross country teams.

“We get to put the numbers on the banner in the gym too,” Wilson said. “It’ll say regional champions 2011.”

Ong was Wiregrass Ranch’s No. 1 singles player last year, but Okungbowa moved to the area from Virginia and took over that spot. Ong now competes at No. 2 and has not minded the rearranging of squad’s rankings.

“It’s been awesome,” Ong said. “There was a lot more pressure on me last year as No. 1. It’s been a good combination in doubles too. I like to come to the net and he likes to stay on the baseline.”

Okungbowa said he enjoys playing tennis in Florida more because the competition level is higher than in Virginia. He added there has been no pressure taking over as the Bulls top player.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Okungbowa said. “The one I was most nervous about was against Land O’ Lakes’ No. 1 (Colin Roller), but I managed to win that as well.”

Okungbowa is one of four new players for the Bulls. Their No. 3 player Eric Busch moved from Texas, No. 4 player Jaime Feliciano came from Puerto Rico and No. 6 player Koustubh Ramesh lived in Naples last year. That, plus returners from the 2010 squad, had Wilson confident about the team’s chances entering this season.

“We have had everyone back from last year,” Wilson said. “We reached the regional finals last year, so we had high expectations. People were complaining about recruiting, but I’m not going to Virginia, Texas and Puerto Rico to get players. The fact that they moved to this area is a stroke of luck. All of a sudden, guys who were district champions for us last year aren’t in the top five.”

In the regional finals the Bulls took the No. 1, 4 and 5 singles points in straight-set matches in less than one hour, but Mainland fought back to claim the No. 2 and 3 points to force doubles play. Ong and Okungbowa started their match first.

“There wasn’t too much pressure on us,” Ong said. “We were up 3-2 and we have a lot of confidence in our two doubles teams.”

The 3A state meet began on April 18 at Altamonte Springs. The championship match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20.

By Kyle LoJacono

Gaither pitcher and outfielder Zach Jackson committed to Barry University in March and made that pledge official when he signed his letter of intent April 14.

“It’s a great relief,” said Jackson, who plans to study marine sciences. “I don’t have to worry about scouting, which is a long process. I can just finish out my season.”

Jackson has been a varsity player since his freshman year and is one of only five seniors on the roster.

“He’s been a big leader, especially this year because we only have a few seniors,” said Gaither coach Frank Permuy. “We have several leaders, but he is the captain. Zach. leads by example and has a great work ethic. He’s relentless in his work ethic and he really wants the team to succeed. Just a model captain.”

Jackson is batting .244 with 10 RBI, five doubles and two home runs this year. In 2010 he posted a .404 batting average.

On the pitching mound he has a 3-2 record with 2.19 ERA and 21 strikeouts. He was 5-3 with a 3.80 ERA last year.

“He has pitched since his freshman year, but he’s had to come into the big games more this year,” Permuy said. “In the past he’s been an outfielder first and a pitcher second. Now he’s had to be both. He’s come through and pitched some big games for us.”

Jackson has also achieved in the classroom. He has a 5.09 weighted grade point average.

“I know grades are very important,” Jackson said. “My parents instilled in me since I was a kid to work in the classroom.”

Barry’s coaches told Jackson he has a chance to play both positions, which was one of several reasons he picked the school.

“It’s in Miami and I always wanted to go to the University of Miami growing up,” Jackson said. “I realized that wasn’t an option, so when Barry started looking at me it was a great opportunity. They have great academics and a great baseball reputation. I’ll have the chance to come in and compete for a starting job right away.”

Jackson will be heading to south Florida after the school year, but he will always remember playing for the Cowboys.

“I’ve loved playing here and playing for coach P,” Jackson said. “He’s always told us to be prepared. I’ve tried to take that to heart and always be prepared for any situation.”

–All stats as recorded by Maxpreps.com by coaches.

By Kyle LoJacono

Land O’ Lakes girls basketball player Shanel Sweet hoped to play in college and her fantasy became reality April 13.

That is when the point guard signed her letter of intent to play at Queens University of Charlotte, a Division II program in North Carolina

“It’s always been my dream,” Sweet said. “It’s overwhelming. … I went to visit a lot of schools, but when I went there I loved the community. Then when I started to get to know some of the players, and when we played a couple pickup games, we worked like we’d been teammates for years.”

Sweet’s basketball journey began at age 8 when her uncle Kelly McClellan introduced her to the sport. She played basketball at Gaither for three years before her family moved into Pasco County.

In her only season as a Gator she posted a team-high 18.4 points per game and 132 assists, while adding 91 steals and 57 rebounds. Land O’ Lakes went 24-3 and reached the Class 4A regional finals for the first time in program history. She never experienced a winning season or victory in a basketball district tournament while at Gaither.

“It’s been a long journey,” Sweet said. “When I came here I wasn’t expecting this. I was expecting us to just be ok again. When we started practicing, I knew we’d be really good.”

First-year Gators coach Laurie Fitzpatrick said Sweet added more than just stats.

“It took the whole team to get where we got, but she was our leader,” Fitzpatrick said. “She got everyone involved in the game and always gave everything she had. Every game she’d pick the team up.”

Fitzpatrick then added about Sweet signing, “She wanted this and this is her opportunity. We’re going to miss her. She’s worked very hard and has truly earned this.”

Sweet plans to study business, but is not sure what career to pursue. For now, she is just enjoying the chance to continue playing basketball.

“I’m relieved,” Sweet said. “Just knowing where I’m going for the next four years. It’s lessening the stress I’ve had the last year about what I’m going to do, where I’m going to go and if I’m even going to play basketball. I’m blessed to be able to go there on a full-ride (scholarship) and play basketball.”

–All stats as recorded by Maxpreps.com by coaches.

By Kyle LoJacono

The 2011 Pasco girls tennis team brought home the first district championship since 1994, but its season came to a close with a 4-1 loss to Nature Coast April 12.

“This team is one that shares a family attitude,” said Pirates coach Don Charlick. “There’s a family atmosphere. It’s all for one, one for all. These girls will all drive each other through the offseason. I told them there’s no lock on (No.) 1, no lock on (No. 2) and no lock on (No.) 3. They’re going to battle it out again next year just like they did this year. That’s going to drive them to be more competitive.”

The Pirates No. 1 player Amanda Dempsey and No. 2 Mady Johnson lost their matches 6-0, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-2 respectively, a quick hole the Dade City team could not get out of.

Nature Coast also defeated Pasco No. 5 Sarah McCord 6-3, 6-4, forcing the Pirates to win the remaining singles matches to have any hope of coming back. Pirates No. 4 Norah Taylor took the first set, but could not close the deal, losing 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

The lone win for Pasco came from No. 3 player Rebecca Pelham, who had to come back from down a set to win the contest. The match sat at 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) when Nature Coast took the No. 4 match. Her competition forfeited the remaining set after hearing her team had already took the team match.

Pelham’s second set lasted more than 90 minutes. The winning point in the tiebreaker came off an error by her opponent, which hit the net.

“My coach has always told me to always fight back no matter what the game, set or match is at,” said junior Rebecca Pelham. “I was just thinking about everything he tells me and I was floored when I saw her shot hit the net. I didn’t know what to think because it was such a long set.”

Pelham also won the No. 3 district championship a week before. She had to fight back from down a set in that match as well.

“When I’m down it makes we want to push for the match that much more,” Pelham said. “I want to fight even harder.”

The Pirates missed advancing to regionals by one point in districts last season. That, plus the long district title drought made Pasco less than a favorite to have the season it did.

“I’ve always rooted for the underdogs and we liked people not picking us all year,” Charlick said. “I think we took everybody by surprised. I don’t think we were picked in any polls to win districts.”

It did not end the way the Pirates wanted, but it is a season the players and coaches will always remember.

“It’s been a really sweet season,” Charlick said. “Three of my players I’ve had on the team the last three years, and the other two are completely new. We lost two seniors last year and gained two new starters. The combination helped us go undefeated in the district in match play.”

Dempsey, Johnson and Pelham are juniors, while Johnson and McCord are a freshman and sophomore respectively. All will likely return in 2012.

“Next year I can only see us being stronger,” Charlick said.

By Zack Peterson

Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Steinbrenner girls tennis team reached the Class 2A regional finals for the second straight year, but they again ran into Englewood Lemon Bay both seasons and were eliminated 4-3 on April 14.

The Warriors still managed to reach the doorstep of the state tournament in the school’s first two years and have laid the groundwork for continued tennis success.

“This is really big,” said No. 1 player and freshman Grace Korta after Steinbrenner defeated Osceola in the regional semifinals April 12. “We’re really a new school and we’re putting our name out there in a big way. We’re definitely a threat.”

The Warriors hosted the semifinals contest and defeated Osceola 5-2, losing only the No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles point.

On the court, the No. 1 doubles team of Kaleigh Wagner and Korta breezed their way to a 6-1, 6-1 victory pushing the score to 5-1. On the other hand, the number two doubles team, comprised of Alley Berglund and Erika Smitten, struggled to hold an early lead and ultimately lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

“There’s a lot of talent on the team,” said first-year Steinbrenner coach Domenic Colangelo. “But just because you have talent doesn’t mean everything. You have to also connect as a team as they have. They’ve earned it all and now they’re winning it all together.”

Wagner attributes the connection the team shares to Colangelo’s more interactive coaching style.

“With him, we practice more often, plus he’s very helpful,” Wagner said. “We’re a lot closer as a team and we help each other out more often.”

Colangelo appears to notice the difference amongst the girls too. According to him, the team dynamic seems to be the telling factor from last year’s squad.

The Warriors will have to regroup next year in a new district and with their Nos. 2, 4 and 5 players leaving due to graduation.