O.C. boys tennis top 10 teams for the 2015 season.
1. Los Alamitos: The Griffins grab the top spot after knocking off University this week, 11-7. Loaded with talent, Los Al is the first county team to knock off the Trojans since April 2006.
2. University: No reason to panic after a pair of early-season losses to quality opponents. The Trojans are younge, but can count on them being in contention when the CIF-SS playoffs come around.
3. Corona del Mar: Is this the year the Sea Kings dethrone University atop the Pacific Coast League standings? It has been 10 years since CdM’s last league title. The Sea Kings host the Trojans on March 31.
4. Beckman: Third-place finishers in the Pacific Coast League a season ago, the Patriots return a solid core from last year’s team. In juniors Axel Stern and Charlie Tong, Beckman has a pair of first-team All-PCL selections.
5. Northwood: The Timberwolves boast a strong doubles lineup. Nathan Nguyen and Kevin Wong proved to have some of the best on-court chemistry last season, and that duo will be instrumental again if Northwood hopes to build off of a CIF quarterfinal appearance.
6. San Clemente: The Tritons appear to be the South Coast League favorites again. Jay Yeam, Michael Bolt and Billy Whitaker make up one of the better singles trios in the county.
7. Santa Margarita: Ricky Kurtz and Ryan Dugan were one of the final four doubles teams remaining in CIF Individual play last June. While they hope to make another deep run this postseason, staying atop the Trinity League for a fourth consecutive season will be the primary goal.
8. Woodbridge: This could be another long season for the Warriors, who are in the same league with University and Northwood. Woodbridge is talented, but it’s also playing in one of the country’s most loaded leagues.
9. Fountain Valley: The Barons graduated some talented players in 2014. Junior Eric Nguyen is now looked upon as the top player for a Fountain Valley program that has been on the rise.
10. Valencia: The Tigers fell just short of a CIF finals appearance a season ago with a 10-8 loss in the semis. With talented sophomore Jacob Lee leading a battle-tested squad, look for Valencia to be back among the Division 3 favorites.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
