By Jeff Odom
The Carrollwood Day School (CDS) girls tennis team faced its toughest competition of the year at the Class 1A state tournament April 15 and 16 in Casselberry.
The Patriots uncharacteristically struggled at the event, as all but No. 5 Casey Brynjolfsson were eliminated from singles play on Day 1.
No. 1 Jackie Fitz-Randolph won her opening match, but couldn’t hang with American Heritage-Delray’s Rasheeda McAdoo, falling 6-1, 6-0.
On Day 2, Jackie, along with her sister, Lauren Fitz-Randolph, didn’t fare much better in No. 1 doubles competition, falling 6-1, 6-2. Brynjolfsson also lost by the same score in her singles finals.
CDS totaled four points to finish sixth at the eight-team tournament.
“We’re proud of what we accomplished, and with our results and our experience we’ve got a great deal of optimism for the future,” said Patriots coach John Most. “We’ve got all our starters back next year, we’re getting physically stronger, and we have the type of experience playing at the state finals level brings.”
On the boys side, CDS ace Eric Fitz-Randolph lost in a three-set tiebreaker on Day 1 in Sanford to Fort Pierce Carroll’s Andrew Blair 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 in the No. 1 singles tournament.
The loss concludes the senior’s career, which included three straight individual district titles.
“The biggest asset in the growth of our program has been Eric,” Most said. “Because of the contributions he’s made, he’s laid a foundation for the team’s future. … He’s meant more to me than anything as a player and an individual.”
