The longtime friends finished fourth at the state doubles tournament.

The longtime friends finished fourth at the state doubles tournament.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Before state prominence, there was friendship. There will always be friendship.
When Gina Peretti and Stephanie Berry graduate from Boardman High in the spring and go their separate ways, one of the school's best tennis teams will be broken up.
But they hope the bond formed as kids -- their parents were even friends -- will last forever.
"We've been talking about it, how we're going to miss each other and miss playing together and how tennis won't be the same without each other," Peretti said. "It's going to be hard."
Berry said, "We're always going to be friends. I'll go to see her at college. She's like no other friend. She's almost like a sister."
Streaking to state
Peretti and Berry, named The Vindicator's tennis co-players of the year, formed one of Ohio's best doubles teams. The senior duo qualified for the Division I state tournament the last three seasons.
"We wanted to make it our freshman year and we didn't," Berry said. "We practiced like crazy. We came before practice. We came after practice."
It paid off.
Peretti and Berry finished fourth at state this year and third last year. They lost in the first round in 2000.
"At first it was kind of hard," recalled Peretti of their freshman year together. "We're so close that we beat each other down. After our first year together, we knew what to say to build each other up."
Or what not to say. When Berry made an error, Peretti knew to keep quiet because her partner would work things out herself.
"When I got down, I didn't want anyone talking to me, so she knew to stay away," Berry said. "When she got down, I would tell her all her strengths. She liked to hear that."
Success in doubles, as Peretti and Berry can attest, depends not only on execution on the court but getting along with each other.
"A lot of doubles teams fought; it's hard not to fight when you're a doubles team," Berry said. "When me and Gina fought, it was a stupid fight and we'd get over it."
Successful style
Using their quickness and aggressiveness to attack the net, Peretti and Berry paved their way to Columbus.
After losing to a pair of Upper Arlington freshmen in the semifinals this season, the Spartans were knocked to the consolation match, lost to Toledo St. Ursula and finished fourth. Upper Arlington won the state title.
"We played really tough, but the girls [from Upper Arlington] were just better than us," Peretti said. "We did play our best, especially Stephanie. She played the best match of her life."
Berry said, "Even though we got fourth, we feel that we went out on top."
Peretti plans to continue her tennis career at Duquesne or Ohio Northern and major in pharmacy.
Bypassing college tennis, Berry plans to major in architecture at Kent State, Miami of Ohio or Ohio State.
Wherever their paths lead, Peretti and Berry will have one common connection.
"We'll probably be friends," Peretti said, "for the rest of our lives."
richesson@vindy.com