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From Splashes To Smashes

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Hope Gorman did not waste time getting involved in her first year at Riverview High School.

The sophomore, who attended Bloomingdale High School last year, was a member of Riverview's swim team in the fall and is in the middle of her first season on the school's tennis team.

"I've always been in love with sports, and I'm very much an adrenaline-driven person," Gorman said. "I'm also the kind of person who likes to try challenging things."

Her current challenge involves learning tennis - she had never played before this year - even as she competes with players who have far more experience.

"My first-ever match was against a senior who's been playing for years," Gorman said. "That one didn't go so well."

Still, Gorman has shown a lot of promise during her first year on a tennis court, said her coach, Nancy MacLauchlan.

"She extremely coachable and reliable," said MacLauchlan, who is also Gorman's swim team coach. "She listens to everything I tell her and does everything I ask her to do."

Gorman also plans to tryout for the school's golf team next year.

Beyond that, she hopes to study psychiatry and hopes to attend Florida State University, the University of Central Florida or the University of South Florida.

Although Gorman enjoys being a member of the swim team, she said her favorite sport has been tennis.

"I'm obviously enjoying it a little more because I'm playing right now, but I also think that it's a sport I could use all my life, so I'm glad I learned it," Gorman said. "Almost anybody, no matter what age, can play tennis."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Hope Gorman

AGE: 16

SCHOOL: Riverview High School

GRADE: 10th

SPORTS: Tennis, swimming

FUTURE PLANS: Wants to attend college and study psychiatry.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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