Laguna runner-up once again
Standing in the way, once again, of the Laguna Beach High boys’ tennis team and its drive to winning a CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship, were the Redlands Terriers.
The teams met a year ago at the Claremont Club in Claremont, with the 2015 title going to Redlands after its 12-6 victory.
This year, the teams played through the regular season that ended with both continuing on to the top two spots in the Division 4 rankings. The Breakers and Terriers then went on to win their first four playoff matches to set up a second championship game showdown.
On the same courts May 20 at the Claremont Club, top-seeded Redlands repeated as division champion by defeating the second-seeded Breakers, 13-5.
“Our team played hard, yet it was somewhat over-matched,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said. “We’re a young team, while they’re led by a trio of senior singles players that gives them a formidable lineup.
“It was a great experience, and one that I’m sure our players will always remember.”
For the Breakers, Ryan Gee won two of three sets (1-6, 6-0, 6-3) at the No. 1 singles line and the team of Sterling Dudley-Bowen and Nick Besso won two of three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-3) at No. 1 doubles. The team of Ethan Gee/Hayden Seitz (3-6, 2-6, 6-2) picked up one point at No. 2 doubles.
Senior Patrick Cachapero swept (6-1, 6-0, 6-0) at No. 1 singles for Redlands (24-1).
“They’re a very strong team at the top, with three exceptional players before we start to match up,” Davis said. “They’re quite a bit stronger than last season, due to the new additions to their team which made our task even more formidable than before.”
Laguna completed a 20-4 season that included the program repeating as Orange Coast League champion.
“It’s a remarkable accomplishment to reach the [CIF] finals two years in a row, and all the more remarkable when you consider that most of our players are ‘homegrown,’ as we don’t have a large private club or academy program feeding us tournament tennis players, unlike Redlands,” Davis said. “We will continue to work hard at bringing along our players, otherwise, our results will suffer in seasons to come.”
The Breakers’ successes reflected in player records compiled during the season. Those records were: Ryan Gee (46-8), Tristan Krogius (36-14), Charles Keller (38-13), Ethan Gee (56-5), Hayden Seitz (56-5), Sterling Dudley-Bowen (28-11), Nick Besso (42-17), Taylor Sokolovic (44-19), Mason Lebby (45-20), Dean Hodes (20-9), Sam Reynolds (11-5), Blake Hawkins (33-13), and Taylor Tran (10-2).
Ryan Gee and Tristan Krogius (in singles) and Ethan Gee/Hayden Seitz and Mason Lebby/Taylor Sokolovic (in doubles) competed Thursday in the CIF-SS Individual Tennis Championships prelims tournament. Results weren’t available at press time.
Earlier this month at the Orange Coast League postseason tournament, Ryan Gee won his third consecutive singles title and Krogius finished second in singles, and Ethan Gee/Seitz won the doubles title with Lebby/Sokolovic placing second.
“Ryan [Gee] is the first player from the school to be a three-time OCL champion in 30 years, so this is an indication of what a remarkable feat this was,” Davis said.
“We have four seniors [Ryan Gee, Seitz, Dudley-Bowen, Hodes] graduating. Ryan [Gee] has been our top player for three seasons, while Hayden [Seitz] has had the best record on the team for the past two seasons in playing doubles, so they will be greatly missed. Additionally, Sterling [Dudley-Bowen] has been a starter in doubles for three seasons, so his experience and leadership will be greatly missed while Dean [Hodes] had improved to the point of being our fourth singles player, and will be greatly missed, as well.”
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca
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