THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410140254
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
WHEN JUSTYNA PETSCH arrived in Portsmouth for her year-long tour as a foreign exchange student, the only thing on her mind was soaking up American culture.
It wasn't until she enrolled in Phyllis Presto's international relations class that Petsch realized Churchland High School had a girls' tennis team. Although the Truckers' starting six were already chosen, as an exchange student Petsch could be granted an exception if she wanted to try out for the team.
She beat every player on the team.
``She beat everybody clean. Nobody even got a game off her,'' said Presto, the Churchland coach.
Had Presto known the background of her new star tennis player, she wouldn't have been surprised at Petsch's auspicious start. At one time, Petsch was ranked eighth in Poland, her native country.
``I actually heard it from an English teacher at school - `Way to go, Presto. You've got the No. 8 player from Poland,' she said.
Actually, Petsch is no longer a top-rated player in Poland, having given up tennis two years before her trek to Virginia. She may have been a little rusty when she got here, but she found her game quickly and compiled a 5-1 record with her selection to the All-Southeastern District team.
After becoming the Truckers' No. 1 singles player, Petsch had an easy first match before facing Great Bridge's Sara Guthrie, the defending district champion. The first set was close, 7-5 to Guthrie, but after that Petsch got down on herself mentally and easily lost the final set, 6-1.
She hasn't dropped a set since.
``I learned a lot from losing to Sara. I was overconfident. . . . and I need to practice more,'' said Petsch.
``That match really helped her,'' agreed Presto. ``She really wants to win, and now she feels like she has something to prove.''
Petsch competed the past week in the Southeastern District Tournament and, as of Thursday, had advanced to the semifinals. She played two matches and won three sets at love, surrendering a single game to Deep Creek's Nina Hohenstein in the quarterfinals.
The district final the last two seasons has been a showdown between Guthrie and teammate Casey Stafford. Petsch, the second seed, will need her power serving and wicked topspin to put an end to that streak.
So far Petsch has hardly been challenged. Presto says that if she has any weakness, it's her tendency to come into matches mentally unprepared.
``She could go all the way to state if she gets her head together,'' Presto said.
Petsch has settled in well with her host family, Kenny and Sharon Allen, and she's enjoying her time at Churchland. Although she may have been a bit cocky at the start of the season, it's only because Petsch has great self-esteem, a tribute to her upbringing in Poland.
``She's extremely polite,'' said Presto. ``There's none of that European temperament with the racquet throwing. She's a lady on the court and always keeps her composure.
``Besides, if she says anything, it's in Polish. We don't have a clue what it really means.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
ALL-SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT TENNIS TEAM
Justyna Petsch, an exchange student from Poland attending
Churchland, became the Truckers' top player.
Kelly Hughes, Churchland
Antoinette Debrough, Wilson
Mary Tinkham, Western Branch
Chrissie Taylor, Western Branch
Karin DeFreitas, Deep Creek
Carey Stafford, Great Bridge
Megan Romash, Great Bridge
Sara Guthrie, Great Bridge
by CNB