After nearly a 20-year drought, the Lady Spartans secured the District Runner-Up Title with an impressive 21-point total at the conclusion of the District Tournament that was hosted in Tarpon Springs on April 14-15.
The Spartans walked into the district tournament boasting an impressive 10-5 regular season record and holding 5 of the 7 number one seeds for the district tournament.
The 6-member squad pulled out impressive wins in both singles and doubles play, clearing out the #2 singles, #3 singles #5 singles and #2 doubles brackets, then advancing to the finals for the #4 singles bracket.
Although Lakewood tennis had been under performing in years past, new coaching was bringing the program back to life. CJAM Co-Director Christina Mills, took over both boys and girls tennis programs this year with goals for the future. Implementing simple attendance and grade expectations and daily conditioning for the athletes, the program began its turn around early in the season.
“Both boys’ and girls’ programs just needed some structure and guidance, the talent is all within the Lakewood walls, it just needed to be harnessed” Coach Mills explained.
Athletes Senior Synia Warren, Juniors Jaelyn Hicks and Lelya Anasri, sophomore Julia Fauer, and Freshman Kenya Brown and Rasheeda Barrow, all brought different levels of experience and skill sets to the growing and changing program.
The simple changes within the program allowed student-athletes to reach peak performance levels as they entered the district tournament, both athletically and academically.
Following the completion of the District Tournament, the Lady Spartans traveled to Hardee High School for the Regional Semi-Finals, sweeping in a win of 7-0, then competed in the Regional Final against Seminole HS. The Spartans then brought in an impressive 5-2 win to claim the Regional Championship title, the first since 1994.
The team credits much of their success to their new coach.
“What makes this season different is our coach. Everything this year was more school organized and helped us bond together as a team,” Anasri stated.
Fauer, elaborated on the differences from seasons past, explaining that “This year we had a strict routine of warm-ups that we stuck with every day. Which has made us grow and conquer as a team this season.” Fauer then went on to credit Coach Mills for their success stating that “the district runner-up title wouldn’t have been possible without her.”
After bringing in not one but two different titles during the 2024-2025 season, the Lady Spartans ended their season with an impressive advancement to the 2024 FHSAA Class 2A Girls State Tournament in Seminole County. Going face to face with Lake Highland Prep, the Spartans accepted a hard 2-5 loss in the State Quarterfinals to end their historic season.
