SPRING REVIEW / TENNIS : Calabasas Coach Expects His Players to Add to Wealth With Another Title

The Calabasas High tennis team hasn’t lost a match in the 3-A Division since the 1982 Southern Section finals, when Laguna Beach knocked off the Coyotes.

Rick Leach, now USC’s No. 1 singles player, led Laguna Beach to that title.

Calabasas avenged the loss to Laguna Beach in the 1983 finals and since has won two more 3-A championships .

Joe Trahan has coached the boys and girls teams at Calabasas for eight years. During that time, he has amassed seven Southern Section titles--two by the girls and five by the boys.

Still, with all the championships, his coaching career reached its apex this season when his boys team tied for first with Corona del Mar in the prestigious Ojai tournament. “This year, I reached the pinnacle of it all,” he said.

According to Trahan, the success of his program has not gone unnoticed.

“It’s an amazing thing how much attention tennis has brought to this school,” he said. “You go anywhere in Southern California and Calabasas is synonymous with tennis. It’s a good feeling.”

The community of Calabasas is also synonymous with wealth, which some think breeds talented tennis players.

“It’s the economics of the area,” Agoura Coach Bill Harms said. “Look at the area, it’s very rich. A lot of the kids have the benefit of belonging to country clubs and tennis clubs.”

Calabasas lost four times this season, all to 4-A Division schools. The Coyotes have lost to Santa Barbara (ranked No. 1 in the 4-A), Beverly Hills (No. 4), and twice to No. 2 Miraleste. Santa Barbara and Miraleste tied for second at the Ojai tournament.

If Calabasas (14-4) wins its fourth consecutive championship this season, its top four players will have to win all their matches. The team lacks depth.

Calabasas senior Steve Oliver, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the Ojai tournament, is ranked eighth by the United States Tennis Assn. among players aged 18 and under in Southern California. Teammate Steve Wiere is ranked fifth by the USTA. Each suffered only one singles loss during the season.

Freshman Al Martinez is the No. 3 singles player. Martinez was ranked No. 1 in Chile in his age group two years ago, and is the Coyotes’ best bet for success over the next few years.

Craig Kaplan, who will attend Washington on a tennis scholarship next fall, anchors the No. 1 doubles team.

“We don’t have much depth,” Wiere said. “Our whole team has to play well to win the championship.”

Calabasas plays Cerritos on Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs.

Trahan is hardly overconfident about the team’s chances of reaching the finals May 28.

“We should be favored since we won it three times in a row, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the schools from Orange County gives us a tough time,” he said.

SAUGUS:

The Centurions, who finished third in the Golden League, play a wild card game today at home against West Covina at 3 p.m.

Jeff Lumaya (32-13) is the No. 1 singles player, and the senior doubles team of Eric Nelson and Fred Burns is 27-9.

CRESPI:

Senior Craig Brown led the Celts to a 5-3 record in the Del Rey League, which was good for second place. Brown, who was undefeated in league, qualified for the individual playoffs by winning the league’s singles title. No. 3 player Chris Yamashita was also undefeated.

Crespi plays Lompoc on Tuesday at Balboa Park.

BURROUGHS:

The Indians of the Foothill League are seeded No. 1 after a coin flip. They finished tied with Hart with a 9-1 record and will play Servite at home Tuesday.

Seven lettermen returned this year, including No. 1 singles player Milan Norgauer (27-3) and the No. 1 doubles team of Matthew Court and Chieu Dang (30-0).

This is the Indians’ fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

HART:

Jamey MacMullen captured the league title in singles after posting a 26-4 record in the Foothill League. In doubles, Bret Silverman and Tuan Dam also advanced into the playoffs.

Hart (17-1 overall and 9-1 in league) received a tough first round draw, playing at La Canada. If it advances to the second round, the Indians will probably face tournament favorite Calabasas.

AGOURA:

The Chargers lost only twice in league, both times to Calabasas, and ended the season 4-2 in league and 15-3 overall.

They are led in singles by Brian Brueckel, Craig Duryea and Juan Barrio.

Brueckel and Duryea teamed up in doubles to qualify for the individual playoffs.

Agoura plays at San Marino, which finished No. 1 in the Rio Hondo League, on Tuesday.

WESTLAKE:

After breaking his wrist on the first day of the season, senior Brian Dick worked his way back in time to win the Marmonte League singles title. Kenny Devore lost to Dick in the league finals, but still advanced to the playoffs.

Both of the Warriors’ doubles teams are in the playoffs. Joe Lee and Jason Munro won the league championship.

Westlake (16-3 overall and 12-0 in league) plays at home against Dos Pueblos on Tuesday.

OTHERS:

Harvard at Hoover; Newbury Park at Palos Verdes; North Torrance at Thousand Oaks; Burbank at Gahr; Notre Dame at Righetti; San Luis Obispo at Canyon; Whitney or Cate at Chaminade. All matches on Tuesday.