The Palo Alto boys’ tennis team (20-5) had a tremendous 2009 season highlighted by their first Santa Clara Valley Athletic League DeAnza division team title in 15 years.
Powered by a deep roster and an experienced core of six seniors, the Vikings kicked off their impressive campaign by winning the California Classic High School tennis tournament.
Senior Sam Wong headlined a strong singles lineup that included sophomore sensation Baramee Wongbanchai, senior stalwart Dan Schwartz and freshman prodigy Nicky Hu. The roster rotated throughout the season with seniors Cory McCroskey and John Mitchell and junior Drew Pearson moving between doubles and singles, a testament to palo Alto’s depth. Senior Alan Chen was a regular in the doubles lineup along with juniors Peter Tseng, Chase Cooper, Grant Audet, and Alex Freeman.
Facing a field of 108 teams from around the state in the Cal Classic tournament, Paly defeated Mission San Jose High School, Sacred Heart Preparatory and Monte Vista High School before losing to league rival Saratoga High School, 3-4. Despite the loss, Palo Alto still claimed the overall title through game differential thanks to the team’s extraordinary play.
Hot off their first ever Cal Classic title after having finished second for two consecutive years, the Vikings romped through the start of the SCVAL play going undefeated and gathering momentum as they entered spring break. However, their first match back from holiday was another 3-4 setback against Saratoga. Two days later Palo Alto was dealt another loss, this time at the hands of powerhouse Menlo School, the eventual Central Coast Section champion. The Vikings managed to rebound with a dominating 6-1 victory over cross-town rival Gunn High School and went undefeated for the rest of the regular season. Paly had an impressive victory over non-league opponent Sacred Heart Preparatory and its first win over Saratoga in four years that clinched the SCVAL league title. Schwartz and Pearson followed the team’s success by claiming the SCVAL doubles title, automatically qualifying them for the CCS individual tournament.
The Vikings were assigned the third seed in the CCS tournament and easily defeated Salinas High School and Aptos High School to set up a semifinal duel with Bellarmine College Preparatory. Despite its best efforts to reach the CCS final for the first time since 1999, Palo Alto lost a close 3-4 decision. In the CCS individual tournament, Schwartz and Pearson fell in the finals to Menlo’s Max Glenn and Patrick Chase, 6-3, 6-2, capping a tremendous 2009 campaign.
Although the Vikings did not reach the Northern California championships which requires a top two finish in CCS to qualify, head coach Andy Harader was pleased with what Palo Alto had accomplished.
“The season was a great success,” Harader said. “Although we did not achieve our ultimate goal, to be in the NorCal championships, we won the Fresno Tournament, #1 out of 108 teams. We won the very difficult De Anza division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, a first in 15 years. The competition has been inspiring, but at the same time unrelenting; so, we are happy to be on top this year.”
Although they will graduate a vital part of their roster, the Vikings will look to defend their league title behind a large class of rising seniors and the contributions of singles standouts Wongbanchai, Hu, and newcomer sophomore Kosuke Hasegawa.