IRVINE – It was about a year ago when University’s Drew Dawson received an unexpected history lesson that has lingered in his mind ever since.
During the trophy presentation at last April’s Ojai Tournament, Dawson stood alongside teammate Tyler Lu after they won the doubles championship at the famed event.
A junior at the time, it was the second year in a row that Dawson won the title. The back-to-back feat had last been accomplished by brothers Mark and Bob Bryan of Rio Mesa High in 1995-96.
“I tied the Bryan brothers record last year, but then they (Ojai organizers) said if I won it again as a senior, I’d tie the guy from the 1900s,” he explained. “I was like, ‘Oh wow, I won. But I guess I have to win it again to tie the best record.’ ”
‘The guy’ from the 1900s is Charles Rogers of Los Angeles High. From 1907-09, Rogers hoisted the doubles championship trophy three straight times, a record that hasn’t been matched in 105 years.
On Thursday, Dawson will start his voyage to match Rogers’ record as the only players to win three consecutive junior division doubles championships in the 114th installment of the Ojai Tournament.
“I definitely have a lot of confidence because I know what to expect,” the Trojans senior said. “I know what the future rounds bring and what the end goal is.”
Separating Dawson’s run from Rogers’ is the fact that Dawson will be playing with his third different doubles partner in as many years. In 2012, the Notre Dame commit won his first Ojai championship with Stefan Menichella, and last year he repeated with Lu.
This time, junior Arash Hafezi will be Dawson’s partner as he chases history.
“Drew’s great to play with because he’s always calm, he’s always collected,” Hafezi explained. “No matter what the situation is, I can always rely on him, and I just feel we can rely on each other in tough times.”
The Dawson-Hafezi combo looked lethal Tuesday in a Pacific Coast League dual match against Beckman, as it won all three of its sets in impressive 6-0 fashion.
“I think they’re able to talk to each other and compliment each other, and I think that’s going to matter in key moments,” said University coach John Kessler. “Drew’s been there and there’s something to be said for that. I think he brings some experience to it. And Arash has been a different player this year. I didn’t know about the combo at first, but I actually like it.”
So too did the Ojai seeding committee.
Dawson and Hafezi were named the top-seeded duo at Ojai, and will open up play Thursday at 9:30 a.m. against Cody Lin and Andrew Whitehouse of Westlake High.
Also beginning play Thursday morning will be senior Eric Tseng, who will represent University in the singles bracket.
The Trojans have won four consecutive team titles headed into this Ojai Tournament, which is awarded to the school with the most combined wins over singles and doubles draws. In order to claim its fifth straight Griggs Cup, Kessler feels Tseng will at least need to advance to the third round to make University competitive.
While Dawson playing singles might have made University more dynamic in the team aspect, Kessler fully supported his senior’s decision to try to accomplish something special.
“Ojai is all about history,” Kessler added. “If he has a chance to do something that only one other person has done, then he deserves that chance.”
Contact the reporter: kconnolly@ocregister.com
