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Wiregrass, River Ridge Split

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By MATTHEW PARKE Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2009

The pivotal showdown between Wiregrass Ranch and River Ridge for Sunshine Athletic Conference supremacy split between the two schools. The Wiregrass boys and the River Ridge girls came out on top last Tuesday. As the season winds down, these early favorites have the edge on the regular-season title.

WIREGRASS RANCH: The boys are 7-0 after their shutout of River Ridge and a 5-2 victory over a surging Pasco squad. No. 1 James Mudge has beaten the best in the conference but has a shoulder injury that hampered his serve. Austin Hamann kept his undefeated streak alive at No. 3. The Bulls have won 19 straight against Pasco County teams. They face Zephyrhills, Brooksville Nature Coast and Sunlake next week.

The narrow loss to Nature Coast last season showed that the Bulls had arrived on the tennis scene. Their rematch Wednesday will be a test for a team that split the week against River Ridge and Pasco. "It will be huge if we can get the win," Coach Tammy Shaw said. Amber Fahrner is undefeated at No. 3 singles.

RIVER RIDGE: On Friday, the 8-0 girls exacted a bit of revenge over New Smyrna Beach, who eliminated the Lady Knights from the 2008 state tournament, by beating them 4-3. Now the team is through its toughest stretch and is in position to run the table in the SAC and district again. They play Hudson and Pasco next week

Losses to Wiregrass and New Smyrna Beach and a tie with Nature Coast have put the 5-3-1 boys team in a precarious spot. Illness is still affecting the lineup and the Royal Knights are three for their last 12 in top three singles matches. Coach Brian Hooker wants his team to regain its confidence and health over the next two weeks in matches against Pasco and Groveland South Lake.

WESLEY CHAPEL: Some realignment in the lower seeds by Coach Matthew Kirouac, might keep the 4-2 boys team in the running for second place in the SAC. No. 1 Yuya Burkhart is "hitting his stride," according to Kirouac. His only loss came to Mudge.

Michael Cool won against Ridgewood in his debut in the top five. Stephen Diamantas has girls coach Jim Cracchiolo's 14 consecutive win streak in his sights at 6-0. The question is, will the Wildcats have enough matches for him to tie or break the record? They do not play a match until March 26 when they face Hudson.

ZEPHYRHILLS: Back-to-back wins this week have put the 5-2 Lady Bulldogs in a good spot to battle for conference runner-up. They blanked Hudson and beat Wesley Chapel 6-1. Coach Lorraine Hinkle said that her team has momentum and the motivation to continue winning next week in a makeup match versus Mitchell on Tuesday and Sunlake on Wednesday.

RIDGEWOOD: The 7-2 Ridgewood girls are another team that has come down with a case of the sniffles. Key players Aleesa Williamson and Sarah Blank are missing matches. According to Coach Joe Kelly, Samantha Aloi has done "a nice job filling in" and has gone 2-1 for the team at No. 5. Kelly said that his team has to get healthy before their district match against South Lake on Wednesday.

GULF: Wins against Nature Coast and Hudson have made it five consecutive victories for the girls team. No. 5 Christa Goad remains undefeated and No. 3 Miranda Gillespie has not lost a match since Week 1. They will host Wesley Chapel on Wednesday.

MITCHELL: The 1-6 Mitchell boys team got its first win of the season after beating 2-6 Ridgewood, 6-1. John Weissler, Justin Galicz, Preston Crabb and Sterling Bash were singles winners.

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