Comment: Ranch's Berry stands tall despite injustice

It’s hard enough to compete in a state tournament knowing you’re surrounded by some of the state’s top talent.

But when a competing coach’s squabble forces a last-minute change — and rips away a player’s chance to compete for a state championship in the process — it strikes at the very core of the entire fabric of prep sports.

Such was the case this past week, when Lakewood Ranch High girls tennis senior Cari Berry was told she could not play for the No. 1 singles championship — the spot she had claimed for the past four years and had won at the regional match — and instead would be forced to play No. 2 singles.

On the flip side, coach Ed Bongart’s daughter, freshman Ashley Bongart, who had spent the season playing No. 2 singles except for the few occasions when Cari wasn’t able to attend a match, would play No. 1 singles.

The mandatory change came following a complaint by Naples Barron Collier, which argued Ashley should play No. 1 singles, because she is ranked higher than Cari in the Florida USTA 18-and-under rankings. Ashley is ranked No. 26, Cari 45th.

Of course, those rankings don’t take into account that Cari missed much of the season after nearly losing her mother in an accident earlier this year.

The Florida High School Athletic Association ruled in favor of Naples Barron Collier, forcing the two to oblige. The girls took the information in stride and went on to compete.

Ashley lost to Barron Collier’s Natalia Maynetto 6-3, 6-1, while Cari won the No. 2 singles crown with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Barron Collier’s Shannon Etten. Barron Collier went on to win the team championship over Lakewood Ranch, which it more than likely would have done, even if Cari and Ashley had been able to play in their original spots.

Cari and Ashley bounced back from their game of musical chairs, defeating Fort Lauderdale’s Jennifer Moore and Jaclyn Rock to win the overall doubles championship — a first for the Lakewood girls tennis program.

But, although the girls both walked away with gold medals hanging around their necks, the travesty of justice remains. Cari earned the right to compete for an individual state championship, but that opportunity was ripped away by another coach’s desire for a trophy for his display case.

So much for sportsmanship.