Woodbridge Tennis Suffers More Losses

The Woodbridge boys’ tennis team has won the last two Southern Section Division I championships, but its chances for three in a row diminished greatly when three of its top players--junior David Lingman and seniors Greg Levy and Brandon Shainfeld--decided two weeks ago that they would not play this season because of a conflict with Coach Joan Willett over practice time.

Last year, No. 1 singles player Chase Exon left the team for the same reason, but the Warriors survived his departure and won the section title.

Lingman, Levy and Shainfeld met with Willett two weeks ago and attempted to find a compromise, but the players said Willett would not budge. The players wanted to miss most of the team practices and some early-season matches to work with their private coach, Mark Kaplan, who is also Exon’s coach.

“I thought we’d help the team win more if we got better, because tennis is a pretty individual sport anyway,” said Lingman, who ranked 13th nationally last year as a 16-year old.

“I was really looking forward to this year. . . . But I think it’s better for me this way. I just can’t go to all the practices.”

“If I’m going to develop team chemistry and camaraderie, I’d want the kids together,” Woodbridge Athletic Director Dave Cowen said.

“I wouldn’t want to deal with all these different schedules for all these different kids. If they want to be part of a team, they’ve got to make some adjustments to their schedules. . . . These are kind of selfish reasons on the individuals’ part.”

Levy said there is a big difference between a tennis practice and a football, basketball or soccer practice.

“All those sports, you have to be on the same field or court together to get better,” said Levy, who has signed a letter of intent with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “The only part of teamwork in tennis is in doubles and in showing support for your teammates during the matches. It’s an individual sport.”

Levy and Shainfeld, one of the county’s top doubles teams the last two seasons, are disappointed they won’t be representing their school as seniors.

“[Willett] wanted us to make every practice and play every match, and there’s no exceptions,” Levy said. “She thinks we’re dictating how she coaches. I think she took it too personally. She’s really the only coach I know who puts sportsmanship and teamwork over winning.

“I can see her point of view. I really can. But we think we’re giving back to our team just as much as anyone because we’re trying to improve ourselves. I know I’ve improved more in the last four months working with [Kaplan] than at any period in my life. I’m not giving that up.”

Several high school tennis coaches have accommodated their top players, so they could work with their private coaches: Kevin Kim and Joseph Gilbert played part-time for Coach Steve White at Sunny Hills, and Taylor Dent played on a limited basis for Tim Mang at Corona del Mar.

Shainfeld, who is being recruited by San Luis Obispo, UC Irvine and UC Davis, is upset the Woodbridge administration didn’t get involved in the dispute.

“If this was [former Woodbridge basketball standout] Chris Burgess and he wanted some time to go to a shooting coach or something, there’s no way they would let him leave the team,” Shainfeld said. “People say tennis is not a big sport, so the administration doesn’t care.”

“They’re totally off-base,” Cowen said. “Chris Burgess had other coaches who helped him out. But Chris was there for the team and the practices.

“I’ve got 20 sports and they’re all important.”

The remainder of the Woodbridge tennis team will begin practice Feb. 16.

One of the top players returning is senior Adam Artunian, who played No. 2 singles for the Warriors last season.

“These guys are my friends, we’ve been through a lot these three years,” Artunian said. “Not having them here, it’s weird. Our whole team is falling apart.”

“Joan has done a tremendous job,” Cowen said. “She’s a wonderful person, an excellent teacher and she’s a done a wonderful job building our program. I fully support her.”