Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
BROOKSVILLE — In a meeting between two of the area's top programs, Wiregrass Ranch emerged as the lone undefeated team still remaining after knocking off Nature Coast on its home courts Wednesday afternoon.
The Bulls took six of seven matches with Tyler Schwefringhaus snagging the lone win for the Sharks in the third seed singles slot.
"The outcome of who won and who lost isn't as important as getting some good competition," Wiregrass Ranch coach Dave Wilson said. "They were undefeated coming in, and anytime you play a team like that it's going to be a test."
Among the losses for Nature Coast (13-1) was a close one for fourth seed Zenon Kouts (12-1) at the hands of Wiregrass Ranch's Jaime Feliciano, 6-4, 7-5. The Sharks junior suffered the second defeat of his prep career after going 24-1 in his first two seasons.
Feliciano joined the rest of his teammates in the winners' column to up their mark to 10-0 in singles play. Courage Okunbowa, Spencer Ong and Dan Helfrich also dispatched opponents in straight sets.
Only Eric Busch (9-1), who was struggling with a bout of the flu, went down in defeat to Schwefringhaus (13-0). The three-set match (4-6, 6-2, 6-4) lasted for a while, but there were no excuses.
"Eric has to refocus before districts," Wilson said. "He was coughing between every point, but there are no excuses; he knows that there are things he needs to work on."