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Mera Glad To Finally Get Gold

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - Senior Jamie Mera had earned a number of accolades in her four years as a tennis player at Chamberlain. Mera won district titles, region titles and had been a part of state runner-up teams, as well as being division runner-up on the No. 1 team singles. Mera had silver medals.

In her senior year, along with her doubles partner, Jennifer Miller, she finally won a state title and with it a gold medal.

"Jamie had won so many silver medals," Chiefs coach Mike Zanatian said. "Deep down I knew she wanted a gold medal. I think that is what drove her."

Mera competed in seven matches in three days at the state tournament in late April, winning the Class 3A state championship in doubles with Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County team member Miller and finishing as the 3A singles runner-up.

The senior played the final two weeks (including in the state tournament) with a broken little toe on her left foot, something Zanatian pointed to her conditioning and desire to compete.

"She was always in top condition," Zanatian said. "She'd play three sets just as easy as two and she would always get upset if she'd lose."

Mera has always had a strong forehand and has been a leader for the Chiefs during her high school career, but her coach said he has seen her game improve every year.

"As a freshman, her style was sitting on the baseline and just smacking the ball back and forth until either she hit it past the other player or they made a mistake," Zanatian said. "Now she has a great net game, she can serve, she can volley and she's definitely not afraid to come to the net."

Zanatian said Mera's play at the net may have played a big part in the success she and Miller had in doubles. In doubles play, usually the stronger player serves first, but in the Mera-Miller combination it's Miller who serves. Zanatian said he asked them once why they start that way and said the response showed how the two were always thinking about the best way to compete.

"They both told me it was because Jamie was better at the net," Zanatian said. "So it shows how much they complement each other choosing to do the best thing for the team."

Mera will play at the University of Missouri next year and plans to study journalism. She is a National Honor Society member, president of her school's Spanish National Honor Society, a member of Beta (an academic honors group) and is involved with Mu Alpha Theta (the school's math club).

GIRLS TENNIS FIRST TEAM

Maria Datcu, Berkeley Prep, sophomore

Amber Li, Plant, freshman

Jamie Mera, Chamberlain, senior

Jennifer Miller, Chamberlain, junior

Meghan Sullivan, Tampa Catholic, junior

Coach of the Year: Lynn Vu, Plant

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