Eagles face big changes

For many teams, a move to a new league happens every four years and brings with it a change of scenery.

This year, for Estancia High, a change in scenery meant being moved to a dangerous neighborhood right next door to an angry neighbor.

The dangerous neighborhood is Division I, the level at which the Estancia girls’ tennis team will compete.

As for the reasoning behind the change, all Estancia has to do is look next door to fellow Orange Coast League resident Laguna Beach High.

The Breakers are the defending CIF Southern Section Division I champions and, as a result, the Eagles were forced to join them at the same level. And with the new league only having four teams, it means Estancia will face Laguna Beach three times instead of two.

Estancia Coach Rachel de los Santos was shocked by such a radical change for her team, which was getting comfortable with Division V after having advanced to the CIF quarterfinals last season.

“We’re kind of disappointed because we’ve been doing well in Division V,” the sixth-year coach said. “In league play we’ll be competitive with Calvary Chapel and Costa Mesa.”

In all likelihood, it will be a three-way battle for the second and final playoff spot the league offers. With seven starters lost to graduation, de los Santos is intrigued as to how her team will respond against a higher level of competition.

“[Laguna Beach] lost most of that championship team but it is still a strong program,” de los Santos said. “It will be a challenge. It will be good for my girls to see what else is out there. It will be a strain on them. The junior-varsity team watched the varsity team have so much success last year, it will be difficult to take. We just kept winning and winning. The girls got excited about that.”

Even the bright spots are uncertain for Estancia. Sophomore Ellie Edles, who went 44-1 in singles as a freshman and was named to the Newport-Mesa Dream Team, is battling a back injury and her future is clouded.

The Eagles’ other returning starter is senior Sarah Stratton, who is entering her fourth year on the varsity stage. Stratton will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 singles player and is one of the team’s two captains.

“She has been in that position before,” de los Santos said.

Sophomore Jennifer Johnston will fill the remaining singles spot after being part of the Eagles No. 3 doubles team last season. Johnston’s athleticism should transfer nicely into the wide open singles game, del los Santos said.

“I think she is a stronger singles player than a doubles player,” de los Santos said. “She’s very quick. She also plays soccer and is in track. I think she’s confident about the change. I think she enjoys singles.”

Junior Abby Coff will take the lead in doubles, but she is in search of a teammate after Shea Kopp, who Coff teamed with for two years at the junior-varsity level, chose to focus on swimming and water polo instead.

Freshman Kendra Fisher, the younger sister of Estancia’s No. 1 boys’ singles player Bradley Fisher, will be in the mix for a doubles spot.

“I don’t know if she plays as seriously as him, but she has competed and has taken classes,” de los Santos said.

Juniors Chantel O’Toole and Jennifer Corona have played together for two years on junior-varsity and will likely do the same for the varsity.

“I can’t guarantee they’ll play together,” de los Santos said. “But we know they’re ready.”

Seniors Maggie Kawano, the team’s other captain, and Angie Espinoza could form the Eagles’ No. 3 doubles team. Kawano brings three years of junior-varsity experience.

“She was one of the players who could have been on varsity last year, but she would not have been playing much so she played junior varsity to get more playing time,” de los Santos said.

Juniors Vidya Ramdath-Maharaj and Marysol Hernandez will both compete for varsity spots.

The number of players has never been a problem for de los Santos. But with around 45 players in the program, there is an emphasis on leadership.

“In previous years, even the captains haven’t been strong leaders,” de los Santos said. “If we can get a couple of girls to lead that will be a way for us to have a better season.”

With so much uncertainty, de los Santos still foresees a positive future for the Eagles.

“I’m excited,” de los Santos said. “Whether we win or lose it is going to be a fun season.”