When you graduate as much talent as University’s boys tennis team did with the class of 2013, it’s only logical that doubters will start to come out of the woodwork.
For the first time in four years, the Trojans walk onto the court without the services of All-Americans Tyler Lu, Stefan Menichella and Gage Brymer, last season’s top-ranked prep player in the country.
That’s a catastrophic blow most high school programs would be devastated by. As they have shown for years, however, University isn’t your run-of-the-mill tennis program.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Trojans proved they are still far and away the top dogs in the county, besting No. 2 Los Alamitos, 13-5, in a nonleague matchup at Los Alamitos.
“These guys are motivated this year,” Trojans coach John Kessler said. “With the loss of our three big studs, I think a lot of people are writing us off like we’ve ridden into the sunset. These boys are unbelievably motivated. They work really hard in practice and I think we’re pretty deep.”
Drew Dawson, an All-County selection for the past three seasons, went unbeaten in his three singles matches. The Notre Dame-bound senior capped his afternoon off with an impressive 6-3 victory over the Griffins’ No. 1 singles player, Riley Smith.
“I thought Riley was having a phenomenal day,” Kessler said. “For Drew to beat him, that was a big win.”
Smith earned both of Los Al’s singles victories, defeating Arash Hafezi (6-1) and Eric Tseng (6-2) before dropping his match with Dawson.
The Trojans went 7-2 in nine singles matchups, and 6-3 in doubles matches.
“They’re still University,” said Griffins coach Mike Moorewood. “Kids come in, they see the jerseys, they know how much success they’ve had. It’s intimidating to play them.”
With the win, the Trojans improve to 5-0 on the season. More impressively, they extend their dual-match winning streak to a gaudy 95 straight.
“You hear the words out there by coaches and players that, ‘Uni’s down,’” Kessler explained. “There’s no doubt we’re down, but these boys have absolutely bought in. This is the best chemistry that I’ve ever had on a team. We’ve got a lot of depth and a lot of hungry guys who are determined to show people we’re still a force.”
KENNY CONNOLLY
In baseball:
Sonora 4, Yorba Linda 0: Sophomore Gabe Armstrong pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Raiders (2-3) beat the visiting Mustangs (0-5) in the Loara Tournament.
Armstrong, who is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, walked three batters. At the plate, he went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI.
