The heat took a toll on Wilson’s tennis team Friday, but that didn’t stop Michael Hall and the Bruins from winning their second-round CIF-SS Division 3 tennis match.
The Bruins beat South Torrance, 12-6, despite Julian Yano suffering a day-ending cramp in his second match and Hall spilling his guts in the biggest win of the day.
After winning his first match, Hall jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Torrance’s ace Loward Choi, but then started to fade physically in the bracing heat. Choi won six consecutive points to take a 6-5 lead and get to match point.
Hall then excused himself, went to the fence behind him and threw up. Bruins coach Keri McBride – the Bruins’ longtime successful girls coach in her second season coaching the boys – was prepared to take Hall out and concede the match.
“Michael wouldn’t hear it,” she said. “He said, ‘I’ll play through this.’ It was amazing.”
He won the point to tie the match and then won the tiebreaker for a 7-6 decision. He went on to win his other singles match as the Bruins coasted to the victory.
“Michael played doubles last year as a sophomore, and this year he wanted to try singles,” McBride said. “He steadily improved and got better each match.
“Plus, Michael has a spirit like no one’s business. He gets himself and his teammates and the fans psyched up.”
The Bruins doubles teams were also strong. Alex Grieve and Kenny Moutet went 3-0, as did Jack Murchison and Matt Mendoza.
“We didn’t go in with a plan, we just wanted to take it match by match,” McBride said. “It wasn’t as hot as the previous few days, but it was hot enough for the kids to get uncomfortable.”
The Bruins, one of two area teams still alive in the team championships, now hit the road for a quarterfinal match today (3 p.m.) at San Luis Obispo – the team the Bruins met a year ago in the semifinals in a tough 10-8 loss.
“Last year’s match sounded like a football game. It was very emotional,” McBride said. “I’m not sure how emotional this year’s match will be since we’re the team on the road. But it should still be exciting.”
Poly’s Alex Nagourney won two singles matches, but the Jackrabbits fell to Oaks Christian, 14-4, to end their season. Cerritos also fell in Division 3, 15-3, to top seed Valencia of Placentia.
Los Alamitos was an 11-7 winner over Loyola in Division 1 and now hosts Northwood today at 3.
Contact the writer: bkeisser@lbregister.com
