Sunday, October 24, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bonanza's Daulat digs deep for boys title

By MIKE HOUSER
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL

RENO -- Bonanza's Rishi Daulat would probably agree with the old adage that nothing worth having comes easily.

Only 45 minutes after outlasting Reno's Randy Reynolds 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals of the Class 4A boys state tennis tournament at Reno Tennis Center, Daulat had to battle once more in the finals against Coronado's Bryan Miller.

Down 2-0 in the third and deciding set, Daulat regrouped and won six straight games to gain a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory and earn his first state championship.

"That was a really tough match," the 17-year-old junior said after beating Miller. "My opponent was really good. I was lucky to pull it out."

Fearing rain or snow, officials decided to move the championship round up two hours earlier than the scheduled 1 p.m. start time.

"The Reynolds match was tough, too," Daulat said. "My legs were about ready to give out. I was a little tired after that, but I was able to pull through."

Daulat said he was beginning to get worried when Miller went up 2-0 in the third set.

"He was on the verge of winning the match," Daulat said. "My teammates gave me encouragement and pulled me through. It's a really great feeling."

After Galena's Julie Burgarello won the girls singles title and Reno's Ashley English and Maddie Garcia won the doubles championship, Silverado's Trent Alenik and Chris Painter salvaged a split for the South, defeating Galena's Wes Reimer and Chris Schwartz 6-3, 6-2 to take the boys doubles championship.

Alenik and Painter advanced to the finals with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Bishop Manogue's Orion Ashmore and Jonathan Kanzelmeyer.

Burgarello won her second state championship, defeating Palo Verde's Briana Moyle, 6-1, 6-0. Burgarello won her first state title in 2002.

English and Garcia triumphed 6-3, 6-3 over Clark's Iesha James and Natasha Rohani, earning their first state championship.