Southern Section Boys 3-A Tennis : Calabasas Wins 4th Title, Beating Dana Hills, 12-6

Joe Trahan has coached the Calabasas High School tennis team for nine years, but it wasn’t until four years ago that he started a tradition--handing out Southern Section championship patches to his players.

In keeping with tradition, Trahan was the master of ceremonies Wednesday after the Coyotes defeated Dana Hills, 12-6, in the boys’ 3-A final at the Calabasas Tennis Club. It was Trahan’s fourth straight 3-A title.

It also was Trahan’s last. He is retiring.

“We’ve climbed the mountain many times,” Trahan said. “Each year it gets a little harder to keep up the winning tradition. It’s like anything else. After a while, there are other things you have to look for in life.”

Trahan, who plans to play on the seniors tennis circuit, led the boys to six Southern Section titles, including 2-A championships in 1979 and 1980. Under Trahan, the girls twice won the 2-A title.

On Wednesday, Steve Wiere and Steve Oliver, who have been on each of the four 3-A title teams, led the Coyotes. They easily won their three matches.

“Who could ever hope to have two guys that good on the same team,” Dana Hills Coach Art Jenkins said. “For us to beat them, it would have taken a very special day.”

Jenkins was hopeful that his No. 1 singles player, Ryan Gately, would make the difference. At 14, Gately was, perhaps, in over his head.

Jenkins started Gately against Calabasas’ No. 3 singles player, Al Martinez. By beating Martinez, Jenkins believed that Gately might gain confidence before facing the more experienced Wiere and Oliver.

His plan backfired. Gately, visibly frustrated, lost to Martinez, 6-2.

“I wanted to start against their No. 1 so that I’d be relaxed when I played their No. 3,” Gately said. “I was tense out there. I didn’t play well today.”

On the other hand, Wiere and Oliver were almost flawless.

Wiere, who has accepted a scholarship to Northern Illinois University, defeated Gately, 6-2; John Anderson, 6-0, and Steve Saba, 6-0.

Oliver, who plans to attend UC Irvine on a scholarship, earned three points with victories over Saba, 6-0; Anderson, 6-1, and Gately, 6-2. He ended his last match against Gately with an ace.

“I had to,” Oliver said. “I knew it was my last point in high school. We won it so many times in a row. I couldn’t imagine losing.”

Neither could his teammates.

“It’s exciting because it’s our last year,” said Mike Bloom, who teamed with Craig Kaplan to win three sets.

Said Kaplan: “Other than that, it’s just another blue banner.”

For Martinez, a freshman from Chile, it may be the first of many blue banners.

Martinez’ defeat of Gately was somewhat of an upset, setting the tone for the final. With aggressive play, Martinez defeated Anderson, 6-3, but fell to Saba in his last match.

“After you know you’ve won it, it’s hard to play tough,” Martinez said.