CdM’s Willson earns big honor in tennis

Danielle Willson definitely did not come alone to Tuesday night’s National High School Tennis All-American awards banquet at the Newport Beach Yacht Club.

The Corona del Mar High junior had her CdM coach there, Jamie Gresh, as well as her mom and dad, two older siblings and her good friend Kristina. Four teammates from the Sea Kings team, Sina Schwenk-Mueller, Grace Jennings, Bella McKinney and Shaya Northrup, also showed up.

“It honestly shows how our team has come closer together,” Willson said, as the teammates stood in the corner chatting following the ceremony. “Look at them, they’re talking all together, and they never used to do that. I feel like for them to be here, it made it more special for me when I was standing up there [giving my speech].”

Everyone in attendance got to see Willson earn a big honor, as one of 40 girls nationwide chosen as a National High School Tennis All-American this year. The night, which honored Southern California male and female recipients of this award, was put together by former longtime CdM coach Tim Mang, who is executive director of the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation.

Willson was one of just four high school tennis players from Orange County honored with the All-American status, along with Christie Wan of Sunny Hills, Emilee Duong of Valencia and Stefan Dostanic of Woodbridge.

Willson went 41-3 in her junior season for CdM, helping the Sea Kings advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals for the fourth straight year. She was the Pacific Coast League singles runner-up to CdM teammate Jasie Dunk, and Willson advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Individuals tournament.

“I’m really proud of [being an All-American],” Willson said. “Honestly, I feel like my hard work is starting to pay off. My jumps of improvement have helped a lot. Jamie for sure, I’ve started working with him a lot more and he’s perfected little things in my game that have always been not as good as my attacking forehand or serve. He’s been there for me all the time; I’m on court with him at least three hours a week. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Some big names were in attendance Tuesday night, with the special guest speaker of former pro tennis player and coach Robert Van’t Hof. The longtime director of tennis at Palisades Tennis Club was introduced by the club’s owner, Ken Stuart.

Van’t Hof was also a CIF singles champion in 1976 at Downey High, and an NCAA singles champion at USC.

“Tennis is great, but going to school, getting an education and continuing on with that education is going to take you a long way,” Van’t Hof told the crowd. “For my son [Kaes, a CIF singles champion at Mater Dei and NCAA doubles champion at USC], tennis opened up the door to where companies and employers would look at him. I’ve noticed a lot of companies really like to hire tennis players. Tennis players have that one-on-one type of mentality, they’re very competitive, they’re very organized.

“If you can organize your life where you’re an amazing tennis player and you still get great grades, these companies love that. I think you guys have a great future ahead of you. I’ve seen some of you play, and I would not want to play you when I was 18. You guys are way better, and the future is going to be bright for you.”

UCLA-bound Connor Hance of Peninsula High earned the Southern California Male Player of the Year award. Wan and Jennifer Kerr of San Dieguito Academy, both of whom are bound for Columbia, shared the Southern California Female Player of the Year honor.

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo