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District tennis: Wiregrass Ranch boys, Newsome girls win titles

 
Published March 31, 2016

TAMPA — The districts might have been shuffled this season but two county powerhouses, the Wiregrass Ranch boys and Newsome girls, kept their strings of titles strung.

The boys action wrapped up first with the Bulls outscoring Newsome 20-11 for their seventh straight title. The Wolves qualified as a team with No. 5 singles player Andrew Conrad winning an individual title, qualifying him for states. Conrad was the Wolves' alternate most of the year but a teammate's injury during spring break called Conrad into the lineup.

The Bulls swept every other bracket with Sebastian Castillo and Destiny Okungbowa, after winning No. 1 and No. 2 singles, winning No. 1 doubles 6-1, 6-1 over Newsome. Castillo won 2015 states as the Bulls' No. 4, after playing most of the season at No. 5. The Bulls graduated all but Castillo from the 2015 roster.

"It was up in the air whether we were going to be a good team this year or not," Wiregrass boys coach Dave Wilson said.

Castillo, who won 4-6, 6-2 (10-5 pro set) in his singles match with Newsome's Spencer Shrader, was up to the challenge.

"When I realized everyone but me in the top six was leaving, I knew it would be me that would have to carry the team this year," Castillo said. "This year, with all my training and knowledge, I've been able to move up and compete in the number one spot."

The Newsome girls won 17-9 over Wharton for the district title, their fourth straight. The Wolves won No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles as well as No. 2 doubles. Julia Staddon, Sugriva Forysth, Caroline Gabay and Maddie Haggbloom advanced to the state meet as individuals and will battle with their teammates at regionals.

"There is some motivation to go to states," Newsome girls coach Dave Peters said. "The kids really get up for districts."

Durant freshman Maggie Pate won No. 1 singles in three matches, only giving up three games. Pate has competed in USTA since she was 9 but relished the chance to compete for a team in her first year of high school.

"I like the team atmosphere a lot," Pate said. "You get to have a team where you get to know new people; it's a fun experience."

Pate and Amery VanDeGrift teamed up for the finale, winning the No. 1 doubles match on the stadium court 6-3, 7-6 (7-3 tiebreaker).