CDS girls claim consecutive district championships
By Jeff Odom
Jackie Fitz-Randolph couldn’t hold back her frustration.
The Carrollwood Day School (CDS) girls tennis player dealt with a rollercoaster of emotions from a long rain delay, missed shots and ultimately a loss in the first set of the No. 1 singles final at the Class 1A-District 8 tournament April 5.
After winning the second set, Jackie trailed 5-4 in the third against her rival and Tampa Prep freshman Paige Leavy. A win would send her back to states.
Jackie could feel the pressure building. She took off her visor, wiped her reddened face and told herself to “come on” and get back into the game.
Then, with Leavy serving for the match, Jackie’s teammates began to shout her name in unison from outside the fence. Others soon joined in.
With support on her side, the Patriots’ sophomore rallied for 12 straight points to beat Leavy 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 to end the three-hour match and help CDS earn its second straight district championship.
“That was the most points I’ve won in a row in the whole match, so I think it’s good how it came out at a perfect time,” Jackie said. “I feel like the wind was affecting both of us, and it was getting to my head in the first set. So, I basically just thought that she’s thinking the same thing as you are, just keep hitting your shots and I just adjusted a little bit.”
One of Jackie’s loudest supporters was her sister and CDS’ No. 2 Lauren Fitz-Randolph. The eighth-grader took care of her singles title, dropping just one game in three matches. She was also a force with Jackie in the No. 1 doubles final against Tampa Prep, beating Leavy and Izabelle Baskette 6-1, 6-3 to clinch the siblings’ third straight trip to the state doubles tournament.
“I feel like our momentum really kept going from last year,” Lauren said. “We’re gonna hopefully win it all.”
The Patriots totaled 19 points at the event, besting second-place Tampa Prep by six for the district title.
On the boys’ side, CDS senior Eric Fitz-Randolph, the sisters’ brother, earned his third straight No. 1 singles district title to advance to states by cruising past Berkley Prep’s Stephen Jordan 6-2, 6-1.
The Patriots failed to advance out of districts as a team, finishing third behind Tampa Prep and the Buccaneers.
“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t make it as a team, but I’m definitely happy with the win today,” Eric said. “I think the score didn’t reflect how close it was. It was really tricky conditions, and the wind made it very difficult for both of us.”
Third-year Patriots coach John Most said he was proud of Eric for all he has done for the Patriots’ young program.
“It’s meant everything,” Most said. “This is only our third year of existence, and at the beginning of the program’s inception we had Eric as our foundation, and to be able to go with Eric to the state championship for three straight years has put us on the map.”
CDS hosts Lakeland Christian in the regional semifinals April 9 at 3 p.m. at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus.
