THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406150157
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KERNELS, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: 940616 LENGTH: Medium
Talk about a successful partnership. Forbes and Shirley, both rising seniors, haven't lost a match or a set in three years, dropped no more than four games in a single match and have won two Group A state titles - the most recent of which came June 3.
{REST} Talk about needing something to break up the monotony.``It's kind of gotten to the point where it isn't even exciting,'' Shirley said.
Forbes and Shirley met each other in sixth grade at Southampton Academy where they became fast friends.
Some various slumber parties and other ``little girl things'' later led to them joining the Broncos' tennis team ``as little scrubs'' in eighth grade.
Forbes and Shirley were good when Year One of their partnership started. Real good. And they became Franklin's No. 2 doubles team as freshmen.
During that year they needed each other as much as Franklin needed them. Shirley had the forehand strokes, Forbes the backhand.
Both had the same court mentality: Put the ball in play. Finish it. Get on to the next point.
They complemented each other perfectly.
``I think that's why we work well together,'' Forbes said ``because we have the same mentality.''
In Year Two: Franklin and a much improved Forbes and Shirley playing at No. 1 was unbeaten up until the state final with J.J. Kelly. Franklin lost, but the Dynamic Duo didn't.
And Year Three: They went on autopilot this season. They had their worst season ever (if you can call it that) dropping a combined seven games to opponents in the state tournament.
Another season, another state championship, another routine year.
``People kind of expect us to win,'' Shirley said.
Said Forbes, ranked No. 22 last season by the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Association: ``If we don't win it would be like, `What happened?' ''
The partnership, is in danger of being severed. Not by Forbes and Shirley. Boring or not, they want this ride to last through the end of their senior year.
But the Broncos lost Alison Drake at No. 2 doubles to graduation making it a possibility that the two will separate.
Will they do it - even for the good of the team? More importantly, can they?
``I can,'' Forbes said ``but I wouldn't like it. ``When you've had a partner for this many years, you know what her strong points are, you know what's going through her mind.''
Added Shirley: ``It's going to be hard but if it's going to be beneficial for the team, I think we can do it.''
Talk about team players.
by CNB