Coach modestly marks 800th win

Neighborhood

For Clearwater Christian College volleyball coach Vickie Grooms Denny, Tuesday night's win over South Florida Community College was just another game in a 28-year coaching career. But it was actually a milestone for Denny, her 800th collegiate win. That makes her one of only 10 active volleyball coaches on any NCAA level to have 800 or more wins.

How did Denny celebrate?

"We went out to have a piece of pie,'' she said.

She is not big on milestones.

After earning a master's degree at Illinois-Chicago and a Ph.D. in physical education/teacher education at Florida State, Denny's career began as a high school coach in Wisconsin. She then spent six years at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wis., where she won a National Christian College Athletic Association national championship in 1987.

Now in her 22nd year at Clearwater Christian, Denny has had unprecedented success at the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II level. The Cougars have won national championships under Denny in 1995, '96, '97, 2000, '04, '06, '07, '08 and '09. She has a 708-193 record at Clearwater Christian and an 800-247 overall record.

Denny's first college win was 27 years ago; don't ask her to describe it.

"That was up in Wisconsin and I don't remember it,'' she said. "In fact, it wasn't until I got married that my husband, Lou, said I needed to start keeping track. We had to go back and figure it out.''

Denny, who is a professor of exercise and sports science at Clearwater Christian and president of the NCCAA, said she doesn't concern herself with wins and losses. This year's team is 2-2 and once again has the potential to keep the national championship string going.

For Denny, coaching is about the players rather than the record on the court.

"It's more the kids and players that come through,'' Denny said. "You think about those individuals and teams and how they were. Numbers are just numbers. But these players have gone on and become good citizens and are adding to the community.

"If you stick at something long enough, you end up getting to see these benefits.''

Golf

The latest Largo Golf Course biweekly 18-hole scramble was held on Aug. 28. The scramble, which is open to the public, had a total of eight teams (32 players). The team of Russell Williams (St. Petersburg), Larry Bates (St. Petersburg), Ed Galasti (Indian Shores) and Jack Murphy (Largo) won the event with a score of 50 (12 under par).

• The County Golf Association weekly tournament was held on Aug. 26 at Belleview Biltmore. The regular division gross winner was Brent Shaw, who shot 77 and won a scorecard playoff. The net winner was Frank Balsama, who shot 69. The senior division gross winner was Ken Jones, who shot 72. The senior net winner was Kit Tuntasit, who shot 64.

Tennis

The Seminole Lake Tennis Center Super Series Challenge was held on Aug. 28-29. The boys 18 singles winner was Jackson Murphy and the 16 winner was Tommy Mylnikov. The girls 18 winner was Nicola Wellman and the 16 winner was Kimberly Herrock. The boys 18 doubles winners were Balaji Jothishankar and Colin Roller. The 16 doubles winners were Zackary Benham and Sam Chaffin. The girls 18 doubles winners were Agatha Ambrozy and Clair Mitchell Andrews.

Basketball

The Tampa Swish adult men's traveling team is holding an open run to find players for the 2010-11 season. The criteria is that players do not have any college eligibility remaining. Call 943-4900, ext. 134 for more information.