Sunny Hills’ Kao Always Plays Key Role on and off the Court

The accomplished pianist is now an accomplished tennis player.

Joseph Kao passed the advanced level for classical piano three years ago. This year, the Sunny Hills senior passed everyone in the county on the tennis court.

Kao’s steady and sometimes brilliant all-court game was at its best against the best players. His semifinal finishes at the season’s two biggest tournaments--Ojai and the Southern Section individuals--were better than any county player and his 53-1 dual-match record propelled the Lancers to the Division II semifinals.

Kao is The Times’ Orange County boys’ tennis player of the year.

“This is where I envisioned I’d be when I entered Sunny Hills as a freshman,” Kao said. “I just plan on going further with my tennis every year.”

This fall, Kao will take his vastly improved game to Stanford, which recently won its 17th men’s NCAA championship. Kao is promised a position on the team for two years, but he is not promised a scholarship--unless he has worked his way into the lineup by his junior year.

“Coach [Dick] Gould asked me, “Are you ready to work your butt off?’ ” Kao said. “I told him I was. That’s the kind of environment I really like.”

Kao also likes a quiet environment, so he can practice for his piano recitals. Although Kao is more passionate about playing tennis than playing the piano, he has found that they can complement each other.

“Playing the piano is a good way to relax,” Kao said. “I’ve learned a lot about tennis from the piano--patience, maintaining your peace of mind during big points. It helps me cope.”

And Kao had to cope with plenty of firepower on the other side of the net this year. He faced two of high school tennis’ biggest servers, Paul Warkentin of Santa Barbara San Marcos and Phil Sheng of Thousand Oaks, in the semifinals of Ojai and the section individuals. Kao lost both matches in three sets, but he had Warkentin and Sheng on the ropes because of his ability to return their rocket serves.

“I never had a difficult time returning serve,” he said. “If you’re going to get a free point on your serve, you’re going to have to ace me.”

At various stages of both matches, Kao the counterpuncher actually became Kao the aggressor. He now admits he went too far in his match with Sheng. He lost his serve in the third set by making one too many trips to the net.

“My private coach [Sam Olson] told me that my chances of winning the point at the net are a lot better if I stay back,” Kao. “I have to agree. That’s not my game right now. But I want to become more proficient at the net.”

Sunny Hills Coach Steve White isn’t complaining. Kao helped lead the Lancers to a Division II title his freshman year and he was the biggest reason they upset third-seeded Oxnard Rio Mesa in the quarterfinals this season.

“He’s been a privilege to coach,” White said. “He’s hard-working, an excellent student and he’s lived up to the tradition of great Sunny Hills singles players.”

That tradition includes Division I college players Paul Bernstein, Kevin Kim, Joseph Gilbert, Chris Chung and, in the fall, Kao--the tennis player/concert pianist.