The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-01-11
High School
Net Squad To
Play Mianians


South Florida High School Tennis
League. The boys and girls teams
are in not because of any polit-
ical pull or any scheming on the
part of officials here but because
OF the fine record they made in the
South Florida High School Tennis
Tournament last year after less
than one year of play. Officials
at the tournament were heard to
remark that the team had made
the greatest progress for a be-
ginning group Of any team ever
seen in Florida.
This week the girls and boys
teams open their schedule with
Miami Edison High School on Fri
day and powerful Fort Lauderdale
on Saturday. Both these games are
away and will be big test for
both our teams.
Now let us take a look at our
teams and see how they will line
up for the opening tests. First
of all let us look at the boys who
have had but one practice match
this year and won il. Due to the
remarkable rise of Leo Carey and
Frank Roberts, Key West Junior
Doubles Champions, the stock of
boys club has taken a great stride
upward. Competition for places has
improved tremendously and there
is little difference in the playing
ability of aRy of the players in
the first six. From now on the
teams success will depend on which
players will rise INTO top ranking
state performances All have basic
ally good orthodox strokes and are
fine looking group of physical
specimens and so all have chance
TO become top players in the next
year. Whatever happens nobody
will deny that his is a good look
ing, fine stroking squad.
AT number one is City Junior
Champion John Cruz. Johns stay
at the top of the group will de-
pend up his backhand. He has
been hitting with poor grip and
Is making change at the moment
If his backhand does not start
to come up to the rest of his game
in the near future he win start
gradual fall down the ladder.
Number two will be Don Cruz, an
experienced performer who if he
flattens out and develops more
power in his ground strokes and
improves his baekhand vollety can
become ranking playei. over
night. Leo Carey at number three
has individually the finest strokes
in the city including the men play
ers. His rise has been phenomenal
and he is Key Vests picture plsy-
er and the performer who young
sters in the city should model
their games after. He should be
playing the number one spot very
shortly after gaining a little more
experience and II he gets there viii
be mighty hard to dislodge.
Number four will be held down
by Frank Roberts who has been
playing less than 6 months. In
that time however he has accom-
plished more than many good play
ers have done in years. He reached
the semi-finals in the City Cham
pi0nships. Singles and lis doubles
champion. If he keeps developing
at his present rate he may be run
ing away with everybody before
long.
AT number five is Peter Knight
who has very fine, powerful strokes
and potentially fine game. What
Peter needs to bring his solid game
to the top is the use of tactics
against his opponents and con-
fidence in his game which viii
keep II from falling apart at diff.
ferent stages of the match.
Number six is held down at the
moment by Tony Dopp who has
been playing fine game of late
and may go to the top or close
10 IL at any time. In the Orange
Bowl Tournament which contained
some of the best youngf players in
the world he won the second set
from a Cuban star who was third
seeded in the tournament. This is
the finest match played by a Key
player.
The girls team will be greatly
weakened for the trip by the loss
of Diana "Pooehie" Fernandez.
Poochie due TO school difficulties
will be ineligible to play II is rea-
lily a shame because in the last
Harvey Cup match Poochie showed
probably the best playing from
of any girl in The city. Her loss
will be keenly felt by the High
School girls and il is hoped by
everybody that her school difficult.
ties will be Strengthened out in
time to play in the first match
in Key West against South Bro
ward January Is and 19
The girls going on he trip are
the five regular members of the
team who have been playing in
the Convent competition. They are
June Yates. Dolores villate. Vita
Barroso, Lynn Sellers and Shirley
Trudeau.
In the matches this weekend
both the boys and the girls should
be slight favorites against Edi.
son, Against Fort Lauderdale,