CdM trumps Normans

Chris Yemma

Both playing without their No. 1 options this season, Corona del Mar

High’s boys tennis team used little effort in defeating visiting

Beverly Hills, a CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinalist last

season.

The Sea Kings only lost three sets on their way to a 15-3

dismantling of the usual tennis powerhouse Thursday. CdM, also a

routine high school tennis goliath, received sweeping efforts from

its Nos. 1 and 2 singles players, and Nos. 1 and 2 doubles teams.

Sea Kings Coach Tim Mang said his team should have no problem with

its first few opponents, playing this season without Carsten Ball,

the former No. 1 singles player who elected to pursue his tennis

career outside of high school.

“The one we’re looking forward to now is obviously Woodbridge,”

said Mang, referring to a March 23 meeting between the two schools.

“And, unless something happens, like somebody gets sick -- we’ve

got the whole team committed now, so we’ll be fine. And that’s the

big one.”

CdM, halted in the Division I quarterfinals last season when Ball

wasn’t available, is going to be relying on senior Wesley Miller at

No. 1 singles when the Sea Kings host Woodbridge. Wesley swept the

two sets he played Thursday, 6-0, 6-0, while junior Dan Tat subbed in

for the third set and won, 6-4.

Woodbridge is led by No. 1 singles player Michael McClune, ranked

No. 28 in boys 16s by United States Tennis Association. Miller is

ranked No. 18 in boys 18s, and 5-0 this year after Thursday’s two

wins. He swept his sets Tuesday, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, against Brentwood,

the Division IV runner-up last season.

Beverly Hills, another school affected by players training

elsewhere, is playing without Mike Gurman this year, the former No. 1

singles player who’s not playing this season.

Freshman Fabian Mathews also swept his sets Thursday, winning,

6-0, 6-1, 6-0. Mathews and Miller will be helping to fill a void left

behind by Ball.

The doubles teams of Matt Chou-Ryan Caughren and Spencer

Reitz-Jonathan Kroopf also swept, playing in the Nos. 1 and 2 teams,

respectively.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 15,

Beverly Hills 3

Singles -- Miller def. Brien, 6-0, def. Adler, 6-0, sub Tat, def.

Lin, 6-4; Mathews (CdM) won, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0; Pham (CdM) lost, 2-6,

3-6, won, 6-1.

Doubles -- Chou-Caughren def. Banafshena-Kaminski, 6-2, def.

Hur-Vayzher, 7-5, def. Kelly-Lee, 6-1; Reitz-Kroopf (CdM) won, 6-1,

6-3, 6-0; Nguyen-Koury (CdM) lost, 3-6, won, 6-4, 6-1.