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By Administrator
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Oct. 18, 2003 |
Ater sailing through league play 9-0 overall, the boys' tennis team stole first place medals in both singles and doubles at the All-City Tournament at Golden Gate Park on May 6.
First-seeded sophomore Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong played beautifully against Washington's third-seeded Greg Hom to acquire his second city championship in as many years. He won the match 6-3, 6-3 æ two sets to none.
"We started out badly in the preseason because no one was showing up to practice, but once people showed up we came together as a team," Hirakawa-Wong said. "When we keep together, we are unbeatable.
Hirakawa-Wong added, "We should be able to get by at least the first or second round the Nor Cal tournament."
Hom was the first to offer Hirakawa-Wong any real competition, as he pummeled through the previous four rounds of the playoffs without losing a game: 6-0, 6-0 on every match.
Boys' tennis MVP Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong
Sophomore Ilya Gendelman finished third at the tournament, beating out junior Bryan Lee two sets to none, 7-6, 6-2.
Although Lee lost in the fourth round to Hirakawa-Wong and then again to Gendelman for the fourth place title, he was the glue that held the Cardinals together throughout the entire season.
"One thing that we have this year as opposed to last year is that Bryan Lee is healthy," Head Coach Terence Doherty said.
On the doubles side, seniors Devin Ness and Ronald Lee finally got the title that they had been fighting for throughout their high school careers. They won 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 against fellow teammates sophomore Anton Peterlin and junior Sammy Aung.
"It felt really good to win," Ness said. "This is my first year getting first place."
It was the first year that Ness and R. Lee were partners, but there were very few problems assembling and perfecting this two-man army.
"Devin and Ronald together are as strong as Franklin Pang and Kevin Au were last year," Doherty said, referring to the graduated duo that won the previous two years' titles.
With two singles championships under his belt in only two years on the team, Hirakawa-Wong is The Lowell's choice for this year's most valuable player for the second consecutive year. If he continues on his golden path, he will be the first player ever to win the singles AAA City Championship for four years running. His combination of a brutally fast serve and powerful volleys allow him to completely dismantle his opponents.
"Kenzo is definitely one of the best high school students I have seen play the singles game," Ness said. "Unless another talented player suddenly emerges, I foresee him easily winning his next two years." |
