Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The St. Petersburg College women's tennis program has been around for only three years, but it is making its second appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship. The Titans finished third at the state tournament played at Hillsborough Community College on April 15-17. They will play in the national tournament May 7-12 in Tucson, Ariz.
St. Petersburg College's appearance in the national tournament is not a surprise. The Titans were ranked first in the Florida Junior College tennis poll and third nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in its March poll. The Titans ended their season 15-2.
The team has an international flavor. There are players from five countries on the roster. Team members are Stephanie Dunseith, Tiffany Easton, Madlena Gueorguiev, Lindsay Hodgdon, Yurina Kunishima, Victoria Reis, Jovana Vasic and Greta Veinberga. The coach is Phil Girardi.
More tennis
Ricky Symanski of Clearwater teamed with Miles Holvoet of St. Petersburg to win the NTCT boys 18 designated doubles championship April 10 at The Naples Tennis Center. It is the eighth doubles win this season for the duo.
• McMullen Tennis Center's Senior 4.0 team, led by captain Wendall Walker, won the local league championship recently and will represent Pinellas County in the sectional championships May 20-22 in Daytona Beach. McMullen was 8-0 during the season. Feather Sound Country Club's Senior 3.0 team, captained by Roger Rogers, won its flight and will also represent Pinellas at the sectional championship matches. McMullen Tennis Center's 4.5 team, captained by Ron Massey, won its flight by winning all six of its matches in a four-team league. It will be going to the sectionals tournament May 13-15 in Daytona Beach. McMullen Tennis Center 3.5 Senior team with captain Sten Tallarida and co-captain Claude Brenco won the local championship. Its record in the seven-team flight was 5-1. It will also represent Pinellas in Daytona Beach May 13-15.
• The Serve Into Spring Rookie Tournament was held in Largo on April 16-17. The boys 14 singles winner was Gantt Shiflet, the 12 singles champ was Oscar Bravo and the 10 winner was Takuma Walter. The girls 16 winner was Avni Agrawal, the 14 winner was Sybil Sha, the 12 winner was Duylan Nghiem and the 10 winner was Christen Crosby.
• The Clearwater Spring Break Classic was held April 16-18. The men's open singles winner was Milos Koprivica, the 30 singles winner was Timothy King, the 40 singles winner was John Miller, the 50 winner was Philippe Assor, the 60 winner was William Rogers and the 70 winner was Andy Rao.
Golf
The County Golf Association held an individual tournament at East Lake Woodland's North Course on April 14. The regular division gross winner was Tom Parsley, who shot 76. The regular division net winner was Matt Pepito, who shot 64. The senior gross winner was Connie Wren, who shot 76. The senior net winner was Frank Ruffolo, who shot 64. The ladies net winners were Lorrie Post, Jeannine Wiles and Sara Wold, who shot 70s.
• The CGA also played a better ball tournament April 18 at River Wilderness. The regular division gross winners were Tom Parsley and Ed Parsley, who shot 74. The senior division gross winners were Mike Sanderson and Bobby Kilgore, who shot 69. The overall net winners were Bill Greenman and Carl Mozal, who shot 64. The ladies net winners were Shirley Nesbitt and Diane Springer, who shot 66.
• The SLAPS golf league held a two-day tournament at St. Petersburg Country Club on April 4 and 11. The overall champion was Nancy Burkett of Bayou Club, who shot 162. The Eclectic group champion was Dena Hale of Belleair Country Club, who shot a net score of 58. The Flight A winner was Anna Hayes of St. Petersburg Country Club, who shot 64.
Gymnastics
LaFleur's Gymnastics of Largo's Level 7 and 8 teams competed in Atlanta for the Regional Championships. In Level 7, Alexa Mattessich won a bronze medal on beam, floor and all-around. In Level 8, Heidi Hepokoski won gold on vault and bronze on beam and all-around. Cassidy Marks won gold on bars and Gina Pergolizzi won gold on bars, silver on vault and floor and bronze in all-around.
The team also competed in the Levels 9 and 10 regional meet in New Orleans on April 16-17. There were two level 9 gymnasts who qualified for nationals, Jasmine Kauffman and Selma Lemezan. In Level 10, Morgan Marks qualified for nationals. Also in Level 10, Amanda Condreay and Kaitlin Green qualified for the National Invitational Tournament.