Laguna athletes claim first-place

The first round of the Laguna Beach Junior Tennis Challenger Series

2003 was played Sunday at Alta Laguna Park and three local players

earned first-place finishes.

The series format was round robin which allowed each player the

opportunity to play at least three matches.

The players ranged from rookie to the more-experienced tournament

player.

In the mixed 14-and-Under Division, Laguna’s Wyndham Smith went

undefeated to win the division. Places second through fourth went to

fellow Laguna athletes Natasha Boulard, Thomas Stevens and Jami

Andrews.

In the girls’ 12-and-Under Division, Boulard went undefeated to

claim first-place. Second-place went to McKenna Nokes with Alexandra

Rieckhoff in third and Alexsandra DeGarmo in fourth.

Laguna’s Benito Romeo went undefeated and won the boys’

10-and-Under Division and was followed, in order, by Patrick Stevens,

Evan Steinhoff and Zach Pratto.

In the boys’ 12-and-Under tournament, Stephan Korner of Laguna

Niguel won the division. Irvine’s Fareed Ahmed placed second and

Laguna’s Mike Rubel was third.

The next tennis challenger series event is scheduled for Oct. 26,

with a Nov. 30 tournament to follow.

The top eight point holders from those three events will qualify

to compete in the year-end Challenger championship on Dec. 7.