The Register’s 2015 All-County boys tennis team.
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
REESE STALDER
Newport Harbor, Sr.
The Register’s player of the year.
EDDIE GUTIERREZ
Fullerton, Sr.
What Gutierrez did in two seasons at Fullerton was nothing short of sensational. After transferring from Mexico before his junior year, Gutierrez captured two straight Freeway League single titles. This season, he advanced to the quarterfinals at the Ojai Tournament and the semifinals at CIF Individuals, the first Indians player to do so in 45 years. Gutierrez finished with a 63-2 record, with his only losses coming against Riley Smith and Reese Stalder.
BJORN HOFFMAN
Corona del Mar, Jr.
Hoffmann finished as the runner-up in April’s prestigious Ojai Tournament, the best finish by a CdM singles player since 1987. Hoffmann finished the year with a 42-5 clip, was second in the Pacific Coast League singles tournament and advanced to the CIF-SS Individual Championship quarterfinals. The Cal commit was also named a high school All-American.
KONRAD KOZLOWSKI
University, Sr.
The senior again was one of the county’s most versatile players. Kozlowski was named to the all-tournament team at the National All-American Tournament in March, advanced to the semifinals in the doubles bracket in Ojai in April, and won the Pacific Coast League singles title in May. He capped his stellar high school career by advancing to the round of 16 in the CIF-SS Individual Championships.
RILEY SMITH
Los Alamitos, Jr.
The junior turned in the county’s most impressive performance of the season in the CIF-SS Division 1 team final, highlighted by a dominant 6-0 triumph over Michael Genender of Harvard-Westlake of Studio City. Smith led the way as Los Al captured its first team title since 2001. He was selected a high school All-American after advancing to the semifinals at Ojai in April, and he’ll be one of the top returning high school players in the country next season.
AXEL STERN
Beckman, Jr.
The junior played a major role in Beckman making its first appearance in the semifinals in the CIF-SS Division 1 team championships. Stern compiled a 72-10 record, was first-team All-Pacific Coast League and went 13-1 in the CIF playoffs. His play was instrumental in Beckman winning a match in the CIF Southern California Regional Championships.
VATSAL BAJPAI, JR.
& KYLE McCANN, SR.
Los Alamitos
While they didn’t play together during Los Alamitos’ run to a CIF title, Bajpai and McCann were a force to be reckoned with in every other major tournament. The Griffins duo captured its second consecutive Sunset League doubles title, advanced to the quarterfinals at Ojai and the semis at Individuals. The duos that knocked Bajpai and McCann out in those tournaments, both wound up hoisting the championship hardware in later rounds.
MAX BOICE, SR.
& RICKY KURTZ, SR.
Santa Margarita
The doubles tandem steamrolled its competition throughout the season, and was a virtual lock for three points every match they played in. Along with teammates Ryan Dugan and Jordan Geis, Boice and Kurtz also advanced to the quarterfinal round of CIF Individual play, giving Santa Margarita two of the top eight doubles pairs in the Southern Section.
RYAN DUGAN, SR.
& JORDAN GEIS, SR.
Santa Margarita
After winning the Trinity League doubles title, Dugan and Geis split up for the Eagles’ championship run in the playoffs. While Dugan locked down Santa Margarita’s No. 1 singles spot, Geis continued to dominate in doubles. The duo advanced to the quarterfinal round of the CIF Individual finals.
Related:
2015 Register’s boys tennis player of the year: Reese Stalder, Newport Harbor
2015 Register’s boys tennis coach of the year: Doug Williams, Santa Margarita
2015 All-County boys tennis: Second team
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com