ALTAMONTE SPRINGS – It had been over 90 years since the area has seen much success in tennis, but that all changed one week in early May.
In a sport that is often dominated by private schools and a handful of public schools, area tennis teams and individuals were determined to change that perception.
By the time the week was over, the First Coast area left Central Florida with multiple state titles and the jubilation of erasing 90 years of bad luck.
A year ago, junior Kendall Nash and senior partner April Sanchez from Atlantic Coast became the first area doubles team to advance to the state finals in 80 years losing in the state final 7-6, 6-1 to Izzy Diaz and Sasha Belaya from Viera.
After coming so close last year, Nash, who signed with Kennesaw State, vowed to never let that happen again and she didn’t finishing her senior year 18-0.
Nash swept Jillian Hobbs from Niceville 6-2, 6-0 in the state semi-finals and then Jessica Stefan from Boca Ciega 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 in the state title match.
Thinking she had just one her schools first state tennis title and ending the 60 year individual jinx, Nash prematurely began celebrating her accomplishment before officials told her she still had one final match.
“After I won I was all excited and then they tell me I still have one final match to play,” Nash said.
She was unaware the Florida High School Athletic Association had changed the rules and format since last year.
In addition to winning the individual title, the individual winner had to play the No. 1 singles player from the team state champion to be named the individual state champion.
What was one more match for Nash, who carried the weight of not only herself but an entire area on her shoulders and backhand.
In the final match, Nash withstood a nail biting match 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 from Emma Heiderscheit from Naples Gulf Coast to become the first public school player to win a state title since Nancy Loop from Landon did it in 1956.
That wasn’t the only history being made in Seminole County that week.
On the same day as Nash remarkable accomplishment, Bartram Trail added to its already unbelievable and unimaginable week with its third state title in as many days.
After losing in the state semi-finals last year 4-3 to Niceville, the Bears were determined to get back to state and avenge the loss and come home with hardware.
Back at state the Bears made up for lost time capping a 17-0 season defeating Chiles 4-1 in the semi-finals and Doral Academy 4-0 in the final to win the Class 3A state title becoming the first area team to win a state title since the 1922 and 1923 Duval High teams.
Brothers Brandon and Brian Pham along with teammates senior Daniel Welch, sophomore Michael Guyot and senior Cole Genter helped the Bears win the team title. Welch and both Phams went undefeated the whole season as well.
A day later both Brandon and Brian Pham were back on the court again competing in the doubles tournament. The duo swept Ryan Rajakas and Benjamin Zipay from Venice 6-3, 6-4 to claim the Class 3A state doubles title.
Then Brandon Pham made it a rare sweep by winning the Class 3A state individual title knocking off Carlos Grande from Belen Jesuit 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) tying George Yenawine from Duval High in 1923 as the first area player to win all three titles.
