2013 Boys Tennis Capsules
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Jeremy Christensen, first season
2012 record: 5-8 (4-6 Northwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen: Eight
Top players: Garrett DeMille (Sr.), Noah Hank (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies narrowly missed the postseason last year, but hope to improve this season.
BONANZA
Head coach: Bill Pollock, second season
2012 record: 2-10 (2-8 Southwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Andy Stephenson (Jr.), Jacob Mabey (Sr.)
Outlook: Stephenson went 23-4 in singles, but likely will pair with Mabey (21-9 in doubles) to form the Bengals’ top doubles team.
After that, the Bengals are hoping to find depth and talent.
“We only have nine players on the roster,” Pollock said. “Most of the guys are playing tennis for the very first time.”
BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Eric Speaker, 12th season
2012 record: 6-8 (5-7 I-A Sunrise, fourth)
Top players: Facio Gomez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Eagles qualified for the postseason last year, but aren’t blessed with experience.
“Graduations will have an impact on this year’s team,” Speaker said.
CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Jeff Noa, eighth season
2012 record: 13-1 (10-0 Southwest, first)
Returning lettermen: 11
Top players: Ricky Koplow (Sr.), Parker McDonough (Sr.), Dallan Johnson (Sr.), Dakota Trombley (Jr.), Allan Fleegle (Sr.), Noah Siegle (Sr.), Raul Saucedo (Fr.)
Outlook: Koplow and McDonough both were state qualifiers last year, and the Bulldogs are hoping to get there as a team this year.
“It’s a heavy senior-oriented team,” Noa said. “We expect to battle for the league title, and we should do well in the playoffs.
“The Bulldogs bring a group of athletic individuals to help the team succeed.”
CLARK
Head coach: Clarence Chun, eighth season
2012 record: 18-1 (12-0 I-A Sunset, first)
Returning lettermen: 14
Top players: Deric Pang (Sr.), Caleb Chen (Sr.), Mark McCrary (Sr.), Kevin Wang (Sr.)
Outlook: Following up a state championship season never is easy.
Following up one that broke a drought of more than three decades is even more difficult.
But the Chargers welcome back 14 lettermen, including state doubles champion Pang and the doubles runnerup team of Chen and McCrary, as they attempt to have another strong year.
“Clark’s goal is make the playoffs,” Chun said.
CORONADO
Head coach: Luther Bohanan, eighth season
2012 record: 15-0 (10-0 Southeast, first)
Returning lettermen: 11
Top players: Cassell King (Sr.), Aaron Egbert (Sr.), Ryland McDermott (So.)
Outlook: Coming off the school’s first state title in boys tennis, the Cougars should be one of the best teams in the state again this year.
DEL SOL
Head coach: Will Ray, fourth season
2012 record: 0-12 (0-10 Southeast, sixth)
Returning lettermen: Four
Top players: Nick Trujillo (Sr.), Mike DeLeon (Sr.), Jonathan Hart (Jr.), Alex Walker (Jr.), Matt Styck (Jr.), Christian Wallace (Jr.), Danny Miller (Fr.)
Outlook: The Dragons return their top two doubles teams from last year in the combinations of Hart and Walker, and Trujillo and DeLeon.
“This team has a lot of talent and is athletically gifted,” Ray said. “We have varsity athletes from multiple different sports. It’s just a matter now of transferring the athleticism to the tennis courts.
“The pieces to the puzzle are there; it’s time to complete the puzzle. Our team goal is to make the playoffs as a team for the first time in the school’s nine-year history.”
DESERT PINES
Head coach: Rich Huong, first season
2012 record: 4-12 (2-10 I-A Sunrise, sixth)
Returning lettermen: Zero
Top players: Rudi Lopez (Sr.), Oscar Murillo (Fr.)
Outlook: Huong’s first order of business as the Jaguars’ new coach is to try to find enough players to field a team.
Lopez is a senior, but has no tennis experience. Murillo should be able to open some eyes as a freshman, but those are the only two players on the preseason roster.
“We’re going to do what we can and build toward the future,” Huong said. “We will be trying to recruit more players.”
ELDORADO
Head coach: Phil Olsen, sixth season
2012 record: 6-8 (2-8 Southeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen: Four
Top players: Trevor Swain (So.), Dakota Shults (Jr.), David Decker (Jr.)
Outlook: The Sundevils have only one senior on their 10-player preseason roster.
“We will have a young team,” Olsen said. “Our returning players will need to play well for us to make the playoffs.”
FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Jeff Foley, third season
2012 record: 12-6 (8-4 I-A Sunset, third)
Returning lettermen: 11
Top players: Jack Stevens (So.), Mario Stadtlander (Jr.), Mitch Taylor (Sr.)
Outlook: The building process continued last year for the Crusaders, who collected their first postseason win.
Faith Lutheran lost just one senior to graduation and returns 11 lettermen who will try to continue the upward progression.
The Crusaders are scheduled to play 10 matches against teams who qualified for the postseason last year, including three against state finalists.
“These guys learned some lessons the hard way last year, but those lessons will help them be better players,” Foley said. “I like the makeup and the work ethic of this team, and I think that will pay off as the season moves on.”
TECH
Head coach: Jerry Wang, third season
2012 record: 5-8 (5-7 I-A Sunrise, tied for fourth)
Top players: Christian Valle (Jr.)
Outlook: Valle placed third in the state meet last year and is back to lead a team that hopes to continue to show improvement.
VALLEY
Head coach: Matt Porter, 10th season
2012 record: 9-4 (8-2 Northeast, second)
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: David Delaney (Sr.), Michael Coppedge (Sr.), Alex Gustillo (So.), Matt Ballaro (Sr.), Marty Heavey (So.)
Outlook: The Vikings bring back only five lettermen, but plenty of talent.
Delaney, who went 28-6 in singles last season, tops the list of returnees. Coppedge was 27-4 in doubles last year, and Gustilo, Ballaro and Heavey all had excellent records last season.
“We hope to improve upon an 8-2 league record and compete for the league title,” Porter said. “Although we have one key player not returning, we have five solid tennis players returning.”
VIRGIN VALLEY
Head coach: Jon Felix, fifth season
2012 record: 11-2 (11-1 I-A Sunrise, tied for first)
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Nathan Hughes (Sr.), Jacob Mikkelsen (Sr.), Tyler Hughes (Jr.)
Outlook: Nathan Hughes and Mikkelsen were regional quarterfinalists in doubles last season.
“They’ll be playing singles, and I expect that they will do well,” Felix said. “We had a great season last year, and we are hoping to do as well this year.”
