Saint Stephen's sends seniors out in style

BRADENTON -- In rapid succession, three Gatorade coolers full of water showered Saint Stephen's three seniors at Moore Athletic Complex at Turner Fields. The only bit of drama on senior day at Saint Stephen's Episcopal School is how the Falcons would celebrate.

Saint Stephen's boys and girls completed their home schedules with a pair of 7-0 wins against Bradenton Christian on Thursday. With both teams in transition after reaching -- and, in the boys case, winning -- the Class 1A state tournament, the seniors who helped the Falcons reach Casselbury in 2015 earned a final moment in Bradenton.

"It's a building year," girls head coach Lesley Eckert said.

The final two on the court for Saint Stephen's were senior boys Cole Sandin and

Neo Cho. Sandin won in straight sets from the No. 1 spot earlier in the day and Cho didn't lose a game at No. 2. They took the court together for the final time at Moore Athletic Complex to play top doubles and sealed the Falcons' shutout with an 8-5 win against the Panthers' Nate Vande Pol and Cade Gilchrist.

SSES (4-3) lost its top player from last season and is in its first season with a new coach. Scott Shields knew this season would be a far cry from last year's undefeated campaign, and Saint Stephen's would have to rely on its depth. The Falcons still have a chance in the Class 1A-District 9 tournament in Sarasota because of how they've performed at Nos. 3-5 singles.

"They're very competitive. All 1-5 they're very close," Shields said. "Most of the schools have very, very strong No.1 and No. 2 players. Some of them are very highly ranked in the state as well as the nation, so the Nos. 1 and 2 slots are very tough spots to pick up a victory, but we've been able to pick up some wins at Nos. 3, 4, 5."

The Saint Stephen's girls' rebuilding season has been smoother despite playing two seventh-graders and a freshman in its regular starting singles lineup.

Senior Annie Brey solidified the Falcons (5-1) at No. 1 singles and in her final home singles match she didn't allow a point. She also played No. 1 doubles with Alysia Serterides, and beat Bradenton Christian's Ashley Waldo and CeCe Rulon, 8-4.

"All things considered," Eckert said, "we're having a good season."

David Wilson, Herald sports writer, can be contacted at 941-745-7057 or on Twitter @DBWilson2.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Saint Stephen's sends seniors out in style ."