Doubles could be key to success

For two local high school boys’ tennis coaches, a good portion of their attention will be geared toward how their doubles teams fare.

The consensus among the coaches is that it might be the difference between being in line to win a league championship

Flintridge Prep, which appeared in the playoffs last season, will look to get back to the top of the Prep League. The Rebels finished tied for second last season after sharing the league championship with Webb in 2009.

The Rebels will feature a top doubles team of Kent Byun and Eric Kazangian to go along with a solid nucleus of singles players that will include Alex Wood and Albert Lee.

“We have the depth in singles and in doubles,” Flintridge Prep Coach Ron Catano said. “That will be helpful for us in league because a lot of the other teams in our league have lost key players.

“I think our returners will be fine because they are experienced. The ones who didn’t play much last year have also gotten better. A lot of our guys are also stronger mentally.”

St. Francis didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season, but Coach Ron Zambrano isn’t going to dwell on the past. Zambrano will look to get the Golden Knights back on track — this season and beyond.

Zambrano said the Golden Knights figure to have a stable lineup intact to challenge for third place in the Mission League behind teams like Chaminade and Harvard-Westlake. Among those Zambrano will pencil in the lineup are a doubles team featuring Daniel Gong and Gregory Pak and singles player John Kazanjian.

“I like our team, now and in the future,” Zambrano said. “We know that the Mission League will be tough, but we have some good players and we think we can fight for a playoff spot.”