Newport Harbor rising to occasion

Chris Yemma

While crosstown rival Corona del Mar High consistently steals the

headlines, the Newport Harbor boys tennis team has quietly been

moving up the ladder.

The last two seasons under now fourth-year coach Jeff Thomsen have

proved that solid coaching does make a difference. Two years ago the

Sailors reached the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the first time

in 13 seasons. Last season, Newport reached the Division I second

round, losing to eventual semifinalist Santa Barbara.

At first, this season was looking as if it was going to be a

replica of pre-two seasons ago. But a recent pivotal change of events

should prove to benefit the Sailors immensely.

Junior Robert Khoury, the Sea View League singles champion two

seasons ago, decided to play for the Sailors this season after

previously opting for home schooling to concentrate more on his

tennis career. Khoury is in the process of reenrolling, Thomsen said.

“He really enjoys the team atmosphere here at Newport,” said

Thomsen, a 1994 graduate of Newport Harbor. “He has a lot of friends

at the school and I think he felt he was missing out on the social

aspect.”

Khoury was home schooled during the first semester, and under

Newport Harbor school policy, Thomsen said, a player cannot compete

in athletics without attending the school.

But the league singles runner up last season will be in place for

the Sailors this year, along with seven other returners. Five

seniors, a sophomore and a junior return this year.

“We have a lot of experience returning,” Thomsen said. “A lot of

the guys are totally committed to the game and I’ll be looking to the

older guys to lead the younger ones.”

Sophomore Jake Fleming, the third-place league singles finisher,

returns to the No. 2 singles position. And senior Dylan Espley-Jones

will be filling in the No. 3 singles spot.

John Hutchinson-Grant Casserly, Brandon Chase-Cameron McLaren and

Derick David-John Cefalia round out all three doubles teams on a

Sailors’ squad that is starting to attract more attention.

“We have steadily gotten better,” Thomsen said. “If we can keep on

improving I think it will attract more talent.”

The Newport-Mesa area is a hotbed for tennis talent, and Thomsen

said he is trying to tap it. He said has been in contact with some

younger kids in the area that will be attending Newport Harbor in the

future.

But Thomsen likes to think the future is right now. And after a

second-round playoff loss last season, Thomsen has set a goal this

year that exceeds that.

“I definitely would like to improve on last year,” he said. “This

year we’re shooting for the round of 16 -- the quarterfinals. But it

kind of depends on the draw we get.”