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Streaks Sweep Heartland Tennis Tourney

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's Nikhil Raghuveera won the No. 4 singles title to help the Blue Streaks capture the team championship in Saturday's Heartland Conference tennis tournament at South Florida Community College.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

Published: March 9, 2009

SEBRING - Every match counts the same and the Sebring boys and girls used their depth and talent to win the Heartland Conference tennis tournament on Saturday.

The Blue Streak boys, which placed five players in the singles finals, finished first in the five-team, two-day tournament with a score of 17 points, Frostproof placed second with 9, Hardee came in third with 6, Lake Placid had 4 and Avon Park did not record a team score.

"I'm pleased we won the tournament and the boys were jumping for joy about finishing first," said Sebring third-year coach Jack Holt. "Our depth helped us win the championship because we made all five singles finals.

"But we lost some matches in both the singles and doubles finals that we shouldn't have and I saw a lot of mistakes that we made that need to be corrected before the district tournament."

The Blue Streak girls finished first with 16, Frostproof was a close second with 13, Lake Placid came in third with 4, Avon Park had 3 and Hardee finished with 1.

"I'm a happy camper," said Sebring veteran coach Janie Hollinger. "The girls played wonderful and I couldn't have asked for anything more.

"The competition was excellent and this was a great experience for our younger players to go through in preparation for the district tournament."

In the boys competition, which took place at the South Florida Community College tennis courts, Frostproof's Tyler Heath defeated Sebring senior Abhi Seetharamiah in No. 1 singles by scores of 6-0, 6-0 and at No. 2 singles, Bulldog Charlie Hurst upset Blue Streak junior Mike Reed, 6-3, 6-3.

At No. 3 singles, Sebring junior Kyle Komisar defeated Lake Placid's Michael Trujillo, 6-1, 6-2, while Blue Streak Nikhil Raghuveera claimed the No. 4 singles title by easing past Hardee's Dusty Spears, 6-1, 6-0.

At No. 5 singles, Sebring's Vihang Nikhate cruised past Lake Placid junior Michael Sweat, 6-1, 6-0.

At No. 1 doubles, Hurst and Heath of Frostproof came away with the title after beating Reed and Komisar, 6-0, 6-3 and at No. 2 doubles, Hardee's Bodek and Justice were the winners.

"The competition was excellent and I'm glad we won," said Holt. "But I didn't like the way we ended up losing the last couple of matches. "The kids have been working hard, but this is something we should learn from because we aren't as good as we think we are.

"The good thing is the district tournament is a month away and we want to be playing our best tennis then."

In the girls competition at Sun 'N Lake Country Club, Avon Park senior Angie Carillo outlasted Sebring's Kelsie Johnson at No. 1 singles by scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, while Blue Streak freshman Kaley Walter won No. 2 singles by stunning Frostproof's Jacqueline Hurst, 6-1, 6-3.

"That was a really long, hard match," said Hollinger. "Both girls played well, but Angie was tough to beat.

"Kaley has really come on strong and is the first freshman I've ever had to win the number two singles title for me."

At No. 3 singles, Frostproof's Lauren Flood knocked off Sebring's Alyysa Kariofyllis, 6-3, 6-2 and at No. 4 singles, Lake Placid's Ana Heredia outlasted Sebring's Kelsey Tucker, 6-3, 6-3.

At No. 5 singles, Frostproof's Amber Reidel eased past Blue Streak Shanna Bassett, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

At No. 1 doubles, Frostproof's Wise and Hurst managed to hang on against Sebring's Johnson and Walter, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 and at No. 2 doubles, Sebring's Kariofyllis and Bassett won over a Frostproof duo by scores of 6-2, 6-2.

"Alyssa and Shanna played really well and every point mattered," said Hollinger. "We had all five girls in the singles finals and that was huge for us.

"I'm very proud of the girls because they played their heart out over two very long days against good competition and this win should give us a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the season."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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