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Wang Gives Back As A Senior

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - Andy Wang said his desire to give back to Sickles High School in his senior year was the impetus behind him deciding after three years at the school to join the tennis team. Wang's decision ended in an undefeated regular season, a district singles title and a spot in the state Class 4A singles final.

Wang said early in the year he walked into the gym at Sickles and saw all the lists of past accolades Gryphons athletes had won during the years and it helped him make his decision.

"When I walked into that gym and saw all those championship banners," Wang said, "I thought, 'Why shouldn't I play tennis?'"

Wang, a senior, spent his three previous years in high school listening to friends and teachers ask him about his tennis game in USTA and eventually the same question would always pop up: "Why don't you play for the high school team?"

"To be honest I thought it would take too much time," Wang said. "I thought I wouldn't have time with school work and all of the junior USTA tournaments."

Wang said a slow down in USTA events allowed him the time and opportunity to play in the high school setting.

"This was my senior year so I thought I've gone to this school for three years already and I want to contribute back just a little bit."

Wang said his decision to play high school tennis provided a different way to look at tennis as a part of a team and not as an individual as in junior USTA tournaments.

"I think that it is definitely harder playing high school tennis," Wang said. "You're not just playing for yourself, you are a part of a team."

Though Wang was playing in some USTA events and only participated in five regular-season matches, he had a strong showing in the postseason. Wang rallied down a set to win the 4A-District 5 singles title against Alonso's Tyler Snook 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Wang went on to win the individual No. 1 singles bracket, defeating Laurence Condez of Jacksonville Fletcher, again coming back from being down a set to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Wang lost in the 4A overall singles state title match to Cypress Bay and state ranked No. 4 Brennan Boyajian 6-0, 6-0. Wang was 11-1 for the season.

Wang signed with Rice in April. The Owls are currently ranked No. 24 in the nation and are a member of Conference USA. Wang said his decision to go to Rice was based more on its offerings academically than for tennis.

"I was looking for schools that were strong academically, as well as in tennis," said Wang. "No other schools came close."

BOYS TENNIS FIRST TEAM

Michael Alford, Wharton, So.

Andy Hersh, Newsome, Jr.

Joel Samaha, Plant, Sr.

Andy Wang, Sickles, Sr.

Mitchell Wong, Wharton, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Marcie Scholl, Wharton

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