California Teams State Their Case

Phoenix Brophy Prep’s Todd Thurston, the No. 1 player from the No. 1 high school team in Arizona, didn’t have to think hard to remember the last time his team lost a tennis match.

“It was here last year,” Thurston said. “The teams we play aren’t very solid. But everybody here is hitting really big. It’s a big adjustment.”

It was too big of an adjustment for Brophy, which lost to third-seeded Corona del Mar, 8-1, in the second round of the National High School Tennis All-American Tournament Friday at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach.

Brophy (10-2), which has won five consecutive big-school titles in Arizona, battled the top-ranked team in Orange County in a few sets. But for the most part, it was overmatched.

Thurston’s set with Corona del Mar’s Brian Morton was indicative of the match, which was played in a college-style format using eight-game pro sets.

He hung with Morton for a while as Morton sprayed some shots while trying to get his rhythm. But once Morton’s powerful forehands zoned in on the court, Thurston was history. Morton, who has signed with UC Irvine, won, 8-5.

“I just tried to be quick and run down his shots,” Thurston said. “I tried to get inside his head. But he hits the ball so unbelievably hard. I don’t have anything I can hurt him with.”

Thurston is ranked eighth in the Southwest and 197th nationally in the boys’ 18s. Morton is ninth in Southern California and 94th nationally.

“Southern California is known for its tennis,” Morton said. “We’re expected to win these matches.”

Garrett Snyder, Corona del Mar’s No. 3 player, also struggled some before putting away Randall Smalley, 8-5.

“I had to get in a rhythm, find my game,” he said. “These guys are hungry. They want to prove they’re just as good as California.”

Brophy has lost only once in Arizona over the last five years. But the private school in downtown Phoenix has been beaten twice in two years here. Last year, Brophy won the consolation championship.

Brophy Coach Bill Woods said he’d rather have the competition than an undefeated season.

“There’s no one for us to play over there,” he said. “Usually, we only take our top two players to matches. This is definitely the highlight of our season.”

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This weekend is also the highlight for Carmichael Jesuit, which lost in the second round to top-seeded Palos Verdes Peninsula, 7-2.

“We’ve been on a waiting list trying to get into this tournament for two years,” said Sam Warburg, Jesuit’s No. 1 player.

Warburg made the best of his opportunity, embarrassing Peninsula’s No. 1 player, Ryan Rizza, 8-2. Warburg, who has signed with Stanford, opened the set by perfectly placing two cross-court backhand passing shots. He wound up breaking Rizza’s serve and confidence in that first game.

“I don’t think he really tried too hard,” Warburg said. “I’ve known him a long time. After I got up the first few games, I think he figured the rest of the team was going to take care of him.”

In the first round, Jesuit defeated University, 7-2. Warburg beat University’s top player, Aaron Yovan, 8-5.

Peninsula (6-0) will face Fresno Clovis West in an 11:30 a.m. semifinal today at Park Newport apartments. Clovis West was a surprise winner over fourth-seeded Brentwood, 6-3. Corona del Mar plays Menlo Atherton, an 8-1 winner over Cupertino Monte Vista, at Corona del Mar High at 11:30. The final will be at 5 p.m. today at Palisades.