Boys Tennis: Tampa King Routs George Jenkins
Thu. April 12, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. | By Rick Brown
George Jenkins' Gavin White was defeated by Tampa King's Kiril Kirkov 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. (Photo by SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER )
By RICK BROWN
THE LEDGER
LAKELAND | George Jenkins boys tennis coach Gregg Mays wasn't upset nor angry after his squad lost in the regional finals match to Tampa King 5-0 on Thursday at the Beerman Tennis Center. If the Eagles could have prevailed, they would have qualified for state. Instead, their season is over.
"I wanted to go to state," he said. "I wanted it for the guys but if we didn't go to state it wouldn't be the end of the world because we are so young. We fought hard. We just lost to a better team."
Tampa King cruised in Thursday's matches, only giving up one set. But Mays was happy with the way his guys battled, especially junior Gavin White, who played at No. 1 singles and freshman Roy Khalife, who played No. 4 singles.
White won the first set against undefeated Kiril Kirkov, 6-4, using a variety of shots and running Kirkov all over the court. He closed the first set with a nice volley where he made two soft returns before blistering a cross court forehand winner. But Kirkov wouldn't let White get comfortable in the second set, taking control of the points early. White also started committing unforced errors which allowed Kirkov to win the second set 6-2 and the last set 6-0.
Although Khalife lost in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, the freshman was down 4-1 in the second set before battling back. He got within 6-5 and had a game-point at ad that could have forced a tie-breaker, but Greg Smith (16-1) was able to hold him off for the victory.
Afterward, Mays gave his team a directive.
"If you want to be in that (victory) huddle next year, you've got to do the work," he said. "I'm excited. I think the guys (will do the work). We'll see."
TENNIS
Boys
Class 3A Regional Finals
at Beerman Tennis Center
Tampa King 5, George Jenkins 0
Singles: No. 1 — Kiril Kirkov (TK) def. Gavin White 4-6, 6-2, 6-0; No. 2 — Victor Ke (TK) def. Shin Zaw 6-1, 6-0; No. 3 — Chiran Witanachchi (TK) def. John Rios 6-1, 6-1; No. 4 — Greg Smith (TK) def. Roy Khalife 6-3, 7-5; No. 5 — Hengyi Wu (TK) def. Sebastian Viteri 6-2, 6-1.
Girls
Class 3A Regional Finals
at Beerman Tennis Center
Lakeland 4, George Jenkins 3
Singles: No. 1 — Ally Campbell (LHS) def. Caitlyn Ryan (GJ) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 — Sandra Khalife (GJ) def Meredith Marshall (LHS) 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 — Andrea Loret de Mola (GJ) def. Sarah Coleman (LHS) 6-4, 6-0; No. 4 — Amy Whitehurst (GJ) def. Bailey Ferguson (LHS) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; No. 5 — Alexis Kelson (LHS) def. Sarah Robinson (GJ) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
Doubles: No. 1 — Campbell/Marshall (LH) def. Ryan/Loret de Mola 6-3, 6-2; No. 2 — Coleman/Kelson (LHS) def. Khalife/Whitehurst (GJ) 6-7(4), 6-5, 7-6(4),
Class 1A Regional Finals
at Tampa Prep
All Saints' 4, Tampa Prep 3
Singles: No. 1 — Pate (AS) def. Gabay (TP) 6-1, 7-6 (3); No. 2 — T. Hughes (AS) def. Campus (TP) 6-1, 6-4; No. 3 — H. Hughes (AS) def. Rice (TP) 6-1, 6-3; No. 4 — Williams (TP) def. Truitt (AS) 6-1, 6-1; No. 5 — Grauer (TP) def. Patel (AS) 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: No. 1 — Pate-T/Hughes (AS) def. Gabay/Campus (TP) 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 — Williams/Palmer (TP) def. H. Hughes-Truitt (AS) 6-4, 6-3.
Girls
Class 2A Regional Finals
at Hillsborough Community
Academy of the Holy Names 5, Auburndale 0
Singles: No. 1 — Wasser (HN) def. Alexis Basgil (A) 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 — Lozo (HN) def. Kelsey Ashbrook (A) 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 — Hernandez (HN) def. Ariane Rosario (A) 6-1, 6-0; No. 4 — Port (HN) def. Katie Widner (A) 6-4, 6-1; No. 5 — Schifino (HN) def. Abbie Johnson (A) 7-6 (5), 4-6, 10-5.
