Squad excels despite two key losses
By Kyle LoJacono
The Wiregrass Ranch girls tennis team completed a perfect 10-1 regular season despite playing without its top two players from last year.
The Bulls reached the Class 3A state tournament, the first appearance in school history, last season, finishing in third place. On that squad were Sarah and Elizabeth Means, who went on to win the 3A doubles championship.
The sisters did not graduate, but decided to focus on more tournaments out of the Tampa Bay area, preventing them from being on the team. They would have missed the entire month of April while out of the country, the month the district, regional and state tournaments are.
“We were disappointed that they didn’t come back, but we understood,” said second-year Wiregrass Ranch coach Jewell Fye. “The schedules just didn’t work. We wanted to get to the top again and try and get to state. I’m so proud of the girls. They’ve really stepped up.”
Jordanyné Fye, Jewell’s daughter, said of the subtraction, “We played without them at times last year when they had tournaments, so we knew how to play without them. We knew how to win without them by giving it everything we had. We all had to pick up our game and we’re doing well.”
Senior and No. 1 player Hannah Still has helped fill that void this season.
“They (the Means) were a big part of our team, but I knew we would still have a lot of good players,” Still said. “I really like being the No. 1 this year and a senior because I feel like I can really help the younger girls. I like that leadership role.”
Another player who has stepped up her game is Leilani Cubero. She was the No.5/6 player in 2010, but has worked up to No. 2 this season.
“I knew there was going to be a lot of competition,” Cubero said. “I’ve worked on my serves a lot. I’m trying to get more power.”
No. 3 player Katie Bonti has been working to perfect her forehand while keeping everything in perspective.
“It’s just fun to be active and doing stuff each day,” Bonti said. “I know some people are out there and are very serious. I think the most important thing is trying your best. It’s high school and we’re supposed to have fun. We’ve been winning too, and I think that has to do with us having fun.”
The Bulls have also borrowed some chemistry from the Wiregrass Ranch girls soccer team. Three of the squad’s 11 players were on the soccer team that reached the 4A regional finals this year – Anne Cypriano, Dayton Wetherby and Jordanyné.
“With Anne, Dayton and Jordanyné coming straight from soccer to tennis, they moved right on in,” Jewell said. “You’d think they’ve been playing with everyone else the whole time. I think they’re all just very gifted athletes. Anne and Dayton had never played.”
All three crossover athletes made the All-Laker/All-Lutz News girls soccer second team this year, Cypriano and Jordanyné as midfielders and Wetherby as a goalkeeper.
Those three players were very familiar with each other, but there are major differences between soccer and tennis.
“It helps with chemistry and communication,” Jordanyné said. “They’re different games, but you need to stay focused in both. Soccer is more of a team and you’re actually working with each other. In tennis it’s individual, but in the end it’s for the team too.”
Cypriano is the No. 5, while Jordanyné is the No. 4. Both come together to make up the Bulls second doubles team.
“Jordanyne’ is very positive,” Cypriano said. “During the soccer season I had really emotional times when I felt I was letting the team down. Jordanyné would always talk me through it. Ever since then, I’ve trusted her. She always makes me laugh too.”
While most coaches play only the top-five players in matches, Jewell has a different strategy for her lineups.
“Once we get our four points, I move them around so everyone has the opportunity to play,” Jewell said. “I think that’s fair to give everyone a chance and it gets more players ready for districts. You never know when someone will need to step in.”
High school teams play five signals and two doubles matches, each worth one point. The first team to four takes the team match.
The Bulls now play in the 3A-5 district tournament at River Ridge April 6-7. Only the district champion and runner-up will continue into regionals.
“I’m just hoping the girls will continue to work and get better,” Jewell said. “They’ve done really well and I’m confident they will.”
