SANTA ANA – Foothill coach Dennis Claus has never had a player like Stefan Doehler.
Doehler is among the most talented players in Orange County. He’s smart, too: He is set to attend Yale next year. But for Claus, it is Doehler’s ability to play on an even keel that sets him apart from anyone he has coached.
“He’s amazingly mature,” Claus said. “You never see him get upset on the court, winning or losing. He’s like (Roger) Federer.”
Doehler enters his senior year carrying a long streak – he has not lost a set in a standard team match since his freshman year. He leads a Foothill team that returns its core after advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, dropping a 10-8 decision to Santa Monica. This year, Doehler said he hopes to improve on some individual performances in the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament and in CIF-SS Individuals.
Doehler isn’t sure how he developed his calm demeanor on the court, just that he has always been able to restrain himself from both excited and angry outbursts. He believes it gives him an advantage because emotions don’t affect how he plays.
“It’s just kind of become a habit,” Doehler said. “It’s been a big part of my game and it helps me not to break down.”
The field for individual tournaments will be a little more open than it has been in years. Gage Brymer won three consecutive CIF individual singles championships and now plays at UCLA after graduating from University High. That opening could be for Doehler if things fall into place.
This season will also give Doehler a chance to play on the same team as his brother Marcus. The younger Doehler, a freshman, opened the season at No.1 doubles for Foothill in its 14-4 win over Garden Grove on Tuesday.
For everything Doehler is on the court, Marcus might be the opposite. He’s left-handed, and Doehler said his younger brother tends to let his emotions show on the court more often.
“I think he’s getting older now and maturing more, but in the past his mental game wasn’t really the strongest,” Doehler said.
The Knights were busy to open the season, playing four matches and a scrimmage in the first week, with Doehler anchoring the team at No. 1 singles. Claus said he won’t know what to do if Doehler happens to lose a match.
“Having Stefan for four years, the banquet’s going to be very emotional,” he said.
Contact the writer: mcooper@ocregister.com
