PREP TENNIS : Marshall, Chatsworth Win Titles

The number 3 seemed to be a magic number at the City Section boys’ team tennis championships at The Racquet Centre at Studio City on Monday.

In the 3-A final, Marshall defeated Van Nuys, 18 1/2-11, to win its third consecutive title.

For Chatsworth in the 4-A final, its third meeting with Taft this season seemed to be the charm as Chatsworth won, 19 1/2-10, to win its second championship in three years. Taft defeated Chatsworth twice during the regular season.

Marshall’s three-year dynasty has centered around No. 1 singles player Arthur Tombakian, a senior who has not lost a set in two years. Tombakian got Marshall off to a good start by beating Van Nuys’ No. 1 singles player, Won Hur, 6-3. Tombakian lost only three games in his remaining three sets.

Marshall (16-0) recently lost No. 2 singles player Manuel Gil-Goodman because of academic ineligibility, so Sebastian Albelais and Thomas Chun moved up to No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. But Marshall also gained a player recently after Greg Gasparian recovered from a broken leg.

Van Nuys (13-2), was overpowered from the start. “They were just too good,” said 20-year coach Jim Buck, who had reached the City final for the first time. “I would like to see them play Chatsworth.”

Chatsworth (12-2) was led by No. 1 singles player Rafael Huerta, who lost only three games. Huerta, a native of Mexicali, Mexico, is the defending City singles champion.

The key for Chatsworth in winning its third meeting against Taft was its greater depth, which is necessary in the round-robin format of playoffs.

Chatsworth’s No. 3 and No. 4 singles players, Jeff Labovitch and Jeff Heidner, each won their sets at their own level and also at one level higher.

Chatsworth and Taft (11-3) were West Valley League co-champions this season.