By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

For the last five years John Bougon has served up an aggressive style of tennis and now the University of North Florida wants him on their side.

Bougon signed a letter of intent to play tennis for the Osprey on Friday. He will be awarded a scholarship to continue his education and to own the court.

Bougon started playing tennis at the age of 9. He became interested in the sport because both his mother and father played. His mother even played tennis as a junior, which may have given him the beginnings of a competitive edge. He practices two hours a day, six days a week. Last year, Bougon was ranked 22nd in the South.

Bougon has trained with Coach Duey Evans for a good part of his young career. Currently, Evans is the executive director of the Tennis Advancement Program in Charlotte, N.C. “John has been playing an aggressive style since the age of 13,” Evans said. “He is extremely coachable but his greatest strength is his ability to compete, which is intangible and can't be taught.”

As the number one singles player on the Sandy Creek team for the last three years, Bougon has been able to help his teammates out on the court. He sees this year as a rebuilding year for the program. “We lost a lot of players to graduation, but so did many other teams, so you never know,” said Bougon.

He currently works out in the off season with his personal coach, Keith Belcher, as well as his sister, Anne Marie, a freshman at Sandy Creek. Anne Marie is also a ranked junior player and hopes to play for Sandy Creek in the spring.

Bougon selected the University of North Florida because of several factors. “I wanted to be by the beach, to get a good education and to get a scholarship. The University of North Florida gave me all of those things.”

His coach at the university will be Coach Tom Schroeder, a Brazilian coach who has built a solid program. Bougon plans to study physical therapy at the school.

“John will do fine playing in college,” said Evans. “The main focus for a collegiate player is to finish off points. John should have no problem developing those skills.”

Bougon is unsure if his tennis career will go beyond college, but nobody who knows him doubts that he could do it if he put his mind to it. He will attend the University in the fall of 2000.

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