2010 Sun All-Area Girls Tennis Team and Coach of the Year

By Cliff Olsen
Correspondent

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100609/ARTICLES/100619994?p=all&tc=pgall

First team

Lindsey Cable, P.K. Yonge, senior: The Sun’s three-time player of the year finished with a 14-1 mark, claimed the District 4-1A title at No. 1 singles and led the Blue Wave back to the Class 1A state tourney for the first time since 1994.

Jazz Whittaker, P.K. Yonge, freshman: Posted a 13-4 record, claimed the District 4-1A crown at No. 2 singles; captured the Class 1A state title at No. 2 doubles with Kiah Turner, was Class 1A state runner up at No. 2 singles.

Leandra Neal, Columbia, senior: Was 13-2 at No. 1 singles and won the District 4-3A title while leading the Tigers to the team title and to the Class 3A state tourney for the first time since 1992.

Sierra Solaun, Buchholz, senior: Ended with a 5-4 record at No. 1 and No. 2 singles; won District 1-4A title at No. 1 singles to qualify for the Class 4A state tournament.

Sydnie Sine, Suwannee, senior: The Hillsborough CC signee posted a 14-3 mark at No. 1 singles, won the District 2-2A title and advanced to the semifinals at the Class 2A state tourney.

Kiah Turner, P.K. Yonge, eighth-grader: Finished 13-3 and won the District 4-1A title at No. 3 singles; captured the Class 1A state title at No. 2 doubles with Jazz Whittaker.

Second team

Keely Dahl, Buchholz, senior: Posted a 6-3 record to win the District 1-4A title at No. 3 singles and helped the Bobcats to the team title.

Zhoe Solaun, Buchholz, junior: Finished with a 6-5 mark splitting time at No. 1 and No. 2 singles for the district champion Bobcats.

Katherine Haney, Suwannee, senior: Was 12-2 at No. 2 singles for the District 2-2A champion Bulldogs; reached the Class 2A state tournament with Sine at No. 1 doubles.

Chrissie Reichert, Columbia, sophomore: Turned in a 15-1 mark at No. 2 singles and won the District 4-3A title; helped the Tigers get back to the Class 3A state tournament.

Zari Whittaker, P.K. Yonge, junior: Turned in a 13-2 record, won District 4-1A title at No. 4 singles and helped the Blue Wave back to the Class 1A state finals.

Susy Romero, Columbia, junior: Won the District 4-3A crown at No. 3 singles, helped the Tigers return to the Class 3A state tourney since 1992, ended with a 16-1 record.

Honorable mention: Grace Dennison, Bradford, senior; Karen Li, Eastside, junior; Toni Veltcheva, Eastside, freshman; Kelly Calder, Gainesville, senior; Callie Lajza, Gainesville, sophomore; Sarah Lima, Gainesville, freshman; Justine Myers, Gainesville, sophomore; Zahara Chowdhury, Oak Hall, freshman; Alexis Mast, Oak Hall, eighth-grader; Kristi Muldoon, Oak Hall, junior; Shelby Ptacek, P.K. Yonge, senior; Lindsey Garland, Suwannee, sophomore; Ashton Bracewell, Suwannee, junior.

Coach of the Year: Robert Taylor, P.K. Yonge

In his first season at P.K. Yonge, he guided the Blue Wave to a 10-1 record and to their third straight district championship and also steered P.K. Yonge back to the FHSAA Class 1A state tournament for the first time since 1994. At the state tournament held at Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry, the Blue Wave finished fourth in the state out of the eight-team field. Highlighting P.K. Yonge’s trip to state was its No. 2 doubles team of Jazz Whittaker and Kiah Turner, who went onto capture a state championship. Jazz Whittaker also finished as state runner up at No. 2 singles. Columbia coach Tabatha McMahon, who guided the Tigers to their first district title and then to their first state tournament appearance since 1992 was a finalist for this award.

Note: The Gainesville Sun all-area teams, player of the year and coach of the year were selected by Cliff Olsen with help from area coaches. If a team is not represented, it is because the coach did not respond to a fax sent to the school requesting information and numerous reminders in the newspaper.