Laguna Beats Cate for the First Time!

It's been a long time coming. In my four years coaching the Laguna Blanca boys' tennis team we've experienced our fair share of frustration at the hands of the Cate tennis team. What happened yesterday was definitely one of the best moments I've had as a coach and a member of a tennis team.

Ben Furukawa and Tristan Prinz were dominant. There's no other way to put it. They dropped a combined total of 9 games on their way to adding 3 more wins each to their impressive singles records. They now both sit at 20-1 for the season, but that's not even what's impressive. What makes me proud to be their coach, both at Laguna and privately, is the way they've been doing it. Nothing makes a coach happier than when his players successfully apply what he has taught them.

Tristan has battled a number of injuries and even an exotic parasite since I began coaching him, but his focus and drive is unwavering. He's been in the singles lineup since freshman year, day one, and even when he's struggled physically, he's given everything. He fights for every point, doesn't care how far up or down he is, and he's been doing a great job of executing the strategies we've been working on.

Ben, unlike Tristan, spent his first year and the beginning of his second at Laguna playing doubles. It's hard to believe, but it wasn't until about a year and a half ago that he started to buy into the modern grips and strategies I was teaching him (he's only been playing with a semi-western forehand since late fall of 2011). In that short period, he has become a formidable player who beats opponents with a mix of speed, consistency, and shot-making. Sometimes it's easy to think of Ben as always having been this good, but he has earned this level of play with hard work and just a short period of time.

Phillip Hicks is a rising star in the Condor League, and in Santa Barbara tennis in general. He is an extremely dangerous player with impressive racquet-head speed. During this match against Cate, he proved to us (and more importantly, to himself) while sweeping his matches that he can blend that raw power with good movement and patience. I was especially impressed with his 6-4 victory over Cate #1 Ahbay Singh, after going down 4-2. The future is very bright for this freshman, who is now 18-3 in singles play this season.

Eddie Conk and Benji Sorensen are good tennis players and great friends, but sometimes that doesn't translate to #1 caliber doubles team. I can honestly say that in previous seasons we've tried this combination with only mixed results. However, despite getting off to a bit of a slow start this season, these guys have proven they belong as the go-to pair in doubles. Now holding a 13-2 record, including a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 performance against Cate, Eddie and Benji are only just hitting their stride. Yesterday, they showed the intelligent, aggressive net-play that every strong doubles team needs to be successful and I look forward to seeing how this win affects their confidence going forward.

The 11-7 win against Cate, as with every other match we've played this season, featured every available Laguna player. As we head off to Spring Break with a 7-0 record and 2-0 in league, each member of this team can take great satisfaction in knowing they've been a part of each win. It was also great to see so much support from parents and our AD, Mike Biermann. This tennis family is looking strong!

As we look toward the second half of the season, we must appreciate but not dwell on our victories. We mustn't become complacent or fall out of practice. These are the greatest road-blocks we have left, but they are entirely within our control. For now, though, celebrate the win!

-Trevor

Owls beat Nordoff + Photo-tour of a Laguna Warm-up

Today Laguna played a very young Nordoff High tennis team and came away with a 16-2 victory. Ben Furukawa, Tristan Prinz, and Phillip Hicks led the way, dropping only two games total in a clean sweep of the singles sets. In doubles, Eddie Conk and Benji Sorensen got a win against Nordoff's number one and then Eddie and new addition Conrad Perry picked up two more wins. At number two doubles, Jack Espy and Martin Barnick scored a dominant 6-0 victory in the first round, before Brendon Nylen paired with Martin for a solid 3-6 effort, followed by a 6-0 win in the third round. Freshman Atty Roddick and Senior Justin Palmer added two of three at the third doubles spot.

It was another joyous victory to be sure, but I also had the opportunity to document part of what goes on before we start the matches: the infamous Owl warm-up. So, without further delay, a photo-tour of what goes on before every practice and every match.

We have different players leading the warm-up each day, but on match day it's usually a team captain.

Jack appears to be pretty excited about split-leg squats.

The Owl is an inquisitive bird and sometimes direct eye-contact with the camera is unavoidable.

It's a deep burn.

Justin Palmer with an early lead over Brendon Nylen in the high-kick form category.

Brendon's not having any of it.

An impressive retort from Brendon leaves the contest at a draw...for now.

The alpha bird assumes his rightful position at the center of the stretching circle.

The other birds carry on their business as usual.

But the alpha relishes his moment at the center of the circle.

Is that a challenge from freshman Owl Atty Roddick in the background? Very impressive trunk-twisting technique!

It seems that Brendon will receive no serious challenges on the day. Another victory.

Perhaps in the future freshman phenom Phillip Hicks will make his way to the middle.

Jack's got the forward momentum working in his favor on this shot.

Martin Barnick shows us the work he's put in during the off-season. Looking sharp!

Phillip shows us a nice kick serve: toss left, pushing up and left-to-right with a wrist flick at the end.

Phillip throws the kick-toss for the first serve...Noooo!!!

Patented Tristan Prinz kick-serve.

All for now. We'll be in action again next week at Muni against Bishop Diego on Tuesday and in Ojai against Besant Hill on Wednesday.