Leaving for learning

By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Sports Writer
4/26/2006

Parks' travels helped her improve her game

Rebecca Parks is a tennis road warrior.

Parks wants to elevate her game, and to do that, she has had to travel. She found herself in Palm Springs, Calif., recently for the tough Easter Bowl ITF international tournament at the Riviera Resort and Racquet Club.

Parks won a round of doubles and lost a singles match at the Easter Bowl. She just finished a Super National event last month in Alabama, where she won two consolation matches, and recently won the metro tournament singles crown.

The 17-year-old Booker T. Washington student won the 2005 Class 4A state singles championship and made a life-changing decision.

Parks elected to attend the Elite TNT tennis academy in Houston. She spent the first semester playing constant tennis and making her game better.

"It was a chance to play more tennis," said Parks. "I wanted to take a break from school and focus on tennis for one semester."

The academy paid off.

"I developed a stronger work ethic," Parks said. "I appreciate what I do more now."

It might seem a constant diet of tennis would burn out a player. Not so with Parks.

"I came back with a lot of excitement to play," Parks said.

The 6-footer recently won the Metro championship in a way that revealed her determination.

Washington coach Butch Fisher was impressed.

"She played ill and that showed a lot of leadership," Fisher said. "She could have easily said she was sick and not participated. She played as much for the team as for herself."

Without saying much, Parks sets a high standard for the rest of the Hornets.

"She gave me my first racket and got me started in tennis," sophomore Hornet doubles player Maggie Spahr said. "She's an inspiration to us because she is so awesome and doesn't act like it."

Parks' tennis and travel schedule does not let up much after California.

Washington moved up to Class 5A this year for tennis, and the competition will be good again at the May 5-6 state tournament in Oklahoma City.

She will play in the national open and a couple of tournaments in California before a break. The summer tournament schedule will also find her on the road again. This fall, she will stay in Tulsa for the annual Chanda Rubin North American championship in Tulsa.


Rebecca Parks, practicing at the Grand Health and Fitness Center, just finished a Super National event, where she won two consolation matches.
SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

BTW's Parks nets title

By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Sports Writer
5/11/2006

Hornets powerhouse survives mighty wind to win second state crown

OKLAHOMA CITY -- If the Class 5A No. 1 singles final had been judged by American Idol's Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, Booker T. Washington's Rebecca Parks would have gotten favorable reviews during Wednesday's windy completion of the state tennis tournament.

"Simon would have said I was a little shaky (serving)," said Parks, who finished the season 13-0. "But overall, good. Paula probably would have liked it."

The rain-delayed event had winds gusting up to 35 mph at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center.

Parks handled the wind fine and outlasted Edmond North's Brittany DeFelice 6-2, 7-5.

It was Parks' second straight state championship.

Parks was devastating with her ground strokes and found success hitting behind the gritty DeFelice, who was Parks' doubles partner years ago. Parks, however, struggled serving.

"Serving is one of my strong points, but it was not good at all," said the junior. "When it's not there, it takes away from my game."

DeFelice finished the season 32-3 and defeated Jenks senior Carly Dixon in the semifinals, 7-6, 6-1, to earn the right to face Parks.

Edmond North won the team title with Jenks finishing second.

Parks' No. 2 singles teammate, freshman Lili Johnson, lost in a three-set final with Putnam North's Leila Keihani.

Keihani prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 5-3 retired when Johnson went down with leg cramps and could not continue.

Johnson ended the season 15-1.

"I'm pleased with what they've done," Washington coach Butch Fisher said. "I'm very fortunate. I have never seen Rebecca lose. I've seen Lili lose just once. I've got two of the best players in the state. We'll be back."

The Hornets finished fourth In the team race.

Fisher said building a doubles program is all the team lacks.

"We need to find some doubles players and we will make a run," he said.


Rebecca Parks of Booker T. Washington scored a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Brittany DeFelice of Edmond North on Wednesday to capture the No. 1 singles title in Class 5A. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World

No. 1 singles
FINALS
Rebecca Parks, BTW d. Brittany DeFelice, Edmond North 6-2, 7-5

SEMIFINALS
Parks d. Kaitlyn Richie, Bartlesville 6-2, 6-3
DeFelice d. Carly Dixon, Jenks 7-6, 6-1

No. 2 singles
FINALS
Leila Keihani, PC North d. Lili Johnson, BTW 4-6, 6-1, 5-3 ret.

SEMIFINALS
Johnson d. Sarah Scoggin, Ed. North 6-3, 6-3
Keihani d. Jennifer Buntz, Jenks 6-4, 6-3