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PULSE / Sports


written by: Larry Carsi I


t is said that statistics don’t always tell the whole story with sports... but then again, sometimes they do. Case in point is the recent success stories of both the men’s and women’s varsity ten-


nis teams at Barron Collier High School. Get ready to calculate some impressive stats! The men’s team has won eight of the past eleven State Cham-


pionships and brought home another trophy this past spring. The ladies won their second State Championship, marking the second time in the school’s history and the fifth time in state history, that the same high school completed the quinella in the same year. It’s a feat not lost on BCHS Activity Director, Mark Rosenbalm, who says, “As a school, administration, and community, we are all very proud of out tennis squads. Who wouldn’t be? Not only are both teams state champions, but their cumulative GPA of the teams was 3.55!” And there are more numbers. The lady Cougers have 16 district


and 11 regional title banners mounted on the gymnasium wall and most recently held the state title in 2005. Meanwhile, the guys hold an impressive 42 individual and doubles state championship titles. Add nine more district plus nine more regional titles (not included in their ten year winning streak encompassing 155 total wins and only nine match losses in the last ten years of competition). “Our decade of dominance,” explains Rosenbalm. The Cougar men can also now count 18 division-one scholarships,


with this year’s team leader, top singles player, Brett Clark the most receipt recipient. After his All-American career start in South Florida, Clark will be taking his skills on the court to the University of North Carolina this fall. Likewise, the University of Alabama, will be lucky to receive the talents of Natalia Maynetto next season, the women’s team leader and All-American senior. Maynetto, ranked Girls No. 1, returned for senior year after being


homeschooled as a sophomore and junior. “Shannon Etten, a recent transfer from Wisconsin in her junior year, was second singles and continues to consistantly exceed expectations.” Hannah Belsinger was Girls No. 3 and senior team captain, Grace Dowling, wrapped up the season as No. 4 singles. Dowling’s career on the courts continues this fall at Lake Forest College in Illinois.


20 | Pulse Magazine SWFL 20 | Pulse Magazine SWFL


Nancy Geiman, award winning coach and assistant pro at The


Vineyards, was elated after her first State Championship win. Prior to her past three years at BCHS, Geiman coached tennis at the Commu- nity School of Naples. Throughout our conversation she stressed the “team” aspect of this individual sport. “We carry 25 young women on our team. As individual athletes they work hard, but are truly a sports team that support despite the individual rankings.” Captain of the men’s ship, Coach Eric Manring, was a player on


the men’s tennis team himself during his high school days at BCHS. He also stressed the importance of team success in what is funda- mentally an individual sport. And Manring’s racketeers had a truly remarkable season! Before the state post-season tournaments even began, the Cougers were runner-up at a national tournament in Lou- isville, KY. The trip was a great experience that helped prepare the squad for their trip to states a few weeks later. Led by Clark, the team dominated both the district and regional


tournaments before heading up to Orlando to claim their statewide victory. Clark is a three time individual state singles champion and a two time state doubles champion. His doubles partner, Austin Robles, is another talented senior who is moving on to play college tennis at the University of Arkansas. More info about the program at BCHS and additional coverage


of these dual championship tennis squads, is available online (select “Tennis” under Activities) at www.collierschools.com/bch


A special thanks to Mr. Robert Dowling of Naples who brought our


attention to these exceptional student athletes. If we had missed this story, it would have been a double fault!


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