Community College State Tennis Championships : Saddleback Men Win Singles, Doubles, Team Titles

Saddleback College swept the singles and doubles titles Saturday on its way to the state men’s tennis championship at West Valley College in San Jose.

It was the second consecutive state title for Saddleback, which finished with 13 points. Santa Barbara City was second with six points, Foothill third with three points and Orange Coast fourth with two points.

Ed Peregrino, a sophomore from Western High School, won the singles title for Saddleback. He rallied from 1-5 in the first set to defeat Billy Miller of Santa Barbara, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

Peregrino’s title clinched the championship for Saddleback, which has been ranked No. 1 all season. Peregrino had lost to Miller in the Ojai tournament singles final two weeks ago. Peregrino, who signed a national letter of intent to attend Cal State Los Angeles last week, reached the semifinal round as a freshman last season.

Peregrino had defeated Eric Rebitzer of Orange Coast, 6-3, 6-4, and Miller beat Darin Pleasent of Moorpark, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinal matches earlier Saturday.

In the doubles final, which matched two Saddleback teams, Jamil Atacha and Stan Sanders defeated Peregrino and Carl Hinds, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, in a mild upset. Atacha and Sanders played at No. 2 doubles team behind Peregrino and Hinds most of the season.

“I just went up in the stands and watched it,” Saddleback Coach Bill Otta said about the doubles final. “There were things I wanted to tell each team, but instead I just sat and watched. It was a great feeling.”

Peregrino and Hinds defeated Dayne Kronberg and Lance Gigerich of Santa Barbara, 6-3, 6-4, and Atacha and Sanders defeated Bob Kistler and Jim Verson of Foothill, 7-5, 6-3, in Saturday’s semifinal matches.