QUIETLY LOOKING FOR A REPEAT: STONE HUMBLE ABOUT SUCCESS NORTH HOLLYWOOD TEEN PREPARING TO DEFEND HER CITY SECTION TITLE.Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News Desiree Stone is well-versed in the history and prestige associated with the City Section girls' tennis title. The 10 individuals who preceded her as City singles champions went on to play Division I college tennis, and she'll join that group when she heads to UC Davis next fall. Ask Stone, 17, to discuss her legacy, not only at North Hollywood High
``I've never really thought about it,'' said Stone, who won the title last year. ``I find it really cool that I'm the first person from North Hollywood to win. But as far as (my legacy), I don't really know.'' Any coach who has watched Stone on the courts at the Balboa Sports Complex in Encino doesn't need prompting to tell you how great she is. ``She has a big serve and a good forehand forehand the head, neck, shoulders, withers and forelimbs of the horse. , but she can also end a rally with a backhand winner out of nowhere,'' said Granada Hills coach Simon Robertshaw, whose last singles champion, Canna canna [Lat.,=cane], any plant of the genus Canna, tropical and subtropical perennials, grown in temperate regions in parks and gardens for the large foliage and spikelike, usually red or yellow blossoms. Furuta, defeated Stone 6-2, 6-3 in the 2003 final. ``But more than that, she's personable PERSONABLE. Having the capacities of a person; for example, the defendant was judged personable to maintain this action. Old Nat. Brev. 142. This word is obsolete. . She doesn't go around strutting strut v. strut·ted, strut·ting, struts v.intr. To walk with pompous bearing; swagger. v.tr. 1. To display in order to impress others. her stuff.'' Stone couldn't be blamed for having a bounce in her step. She's only the fifth individual in the 31-year history of the girls' tournament to advance to three singles finals. And she could become the sixth girl to repeat as champion with a victory Wednesday. Despite a 79-4 set record the past three years, there isn't a confident swagger in Stone's game. ``It may seem like I'm confident, but the nervousness always overrides it,'' Stone said. ``Whenever I step on the court, I'm always nervous, no matter who I'm playing.'' The anxiety hasn't shown. Stone has handled one opponent after another, increasing her winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" to 26 sets entering Wednesday's match. Her run began with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Center for Enriched Studies' Samantha Smith For the British tennis player, see . Samantha Reed Smith (June 29, 1972–August 25, 1985) was an American schoolgirl from Houlton, Maine who became famous in the Cold War-era United States and Soviet Union after writing a letter in 1982 to the Soviet Communist Party in last year's final. ``Winning the title was a huge step for me,'' said Stone, who was 21-7 last year. ``After I lost to Canna the year before, I realized how immature I was on the tennis court. ``Last year, after I lost the first set, I realized how I was playing and I was able to make adjustments.'' Stone has matured from a timid, inexperienced freshman into a team leader and role model. ``My ninth-grade year, I was lost out there,'' said Stone, who split time between tennis and basketball her first two years. ``I was so scared of everyone because they were so much bigger and so much older. I was totally clueless clue·less adj. Lacking understanding or knowledge. clueless Adjective Slang helpless or stupid Adj. 1. .'' She found a mentor in four-year varsity player Marsha Clever, and her coach, David Lubnow, looked to her for leadership from the first day he took over the program from David Firman Fir´man n. 1. In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; - generally given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance. . ``She's there during sixth period with the girls,'' Lubnow said. ``She's the one that plans the end-of-the-year banquet. She helps with the team sweatshirts. She does all of that.'' When her junior year started, Stone was forced to give up basketball to focus strictly on the tennis court, with the goal of securing a Division I scholarship. Her work in the classroom, with her title last season, helped her make that dream a reality. ``UC Irvine read the article in the paper after I won and came out and saw me at a tournament and talked to my dad (Eck),'' said Stone, who is bidding to become the first player since Hollywood's Jessica Roland in 1998-99 to repeat as champion. ``I wanted to go to UCI UCI University of California, Irvine UCI Union Cycliste Internationale (International Cycling Union) UCI Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos UCI United Cinemas International (UK) , but UC Davis offered me a scholarship.'' Lubnow knows he can't replace Stone next year. But he's confident her impact at the magnet school magnet school n. A public school offering a specialized curriculum, often with high academic standards, to a student body representing a cross section of the community. will be evident for years to come. ``It is because of Desiree and the girls' program that the boys' program has blown up,'' he said. ``My boys' team made it to the City quarterfinals last year, and Desiree would've beaten them all.'' Stone isn't worried about winning North Hollywood's battle of the sexes right now. She just wants to conclude her career with another title. ``It's the perfect match,'' she said. ``And to win would be the perfect way to end it.'' Erik Boal, (818) 713-3607 erik.boal(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) North Hollywood tennis player Desiree Stone, left, converses with her coach, David Lubnow. Stone, above, has a 79-4 set record the past three years. Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News |
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