Saratoga News

The Courtside boys' 12-and-under team, representing Northern California, beat Southern California in the Gar Glenney Cup finals at the UCLA Stadium Courts. Members of the team include (l-r) assistant coach Hans Heller, Simon Cheng, Brian Brogan, Jay Wong, Aaron Klapper, Ted Hull, Cameron Askew and coach Tim Sunderland. Not pictured is assistant coach Leah Thomas.

Courtside kids win at Gar Glenney Cup

By Dick Sparrer

It's not often that Northern California beats Southern California in the Gar Glenney Cup state finals. OK, so maybe it's even more uncommon than that. But Northern California pulled it off this year, and Courtside of Los Gatos played a very key role.

Courtside sent three teams to the state finals, and two beat Southern California foes to claim state championships.

In all, Northern California won four of the six matches played at the finals to claim the Gar Glenney Cup crown. "It was a very rare victory," Courtside coach Tim Sunderland said of Northern California's achievement.

Teams competed in the boys and girls 18-, 15- and 12-and-under divisions at the state finals at the UCLA Stadium Courts. Courtside won titles in the girls 15- and boys 12-and-under divisions, and Modesto (boys 18) and Mission Hills (boys 15) added NorCal victories.

Courtside's boys 12-and-under team upset Cabrillo 5-4 to nail a state championship.

"It was a great win," Sunderland said.

Courtside lost in the first three singles slots, but won the next three to match Cabrillo in singles play.

Aaron Klapper won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, Ted Hull was a 6-3, 6-3 winner at No. 5 and Cameron Askew won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6. For both Klapper and Hull, the wins marked the completion of an undefeated season.

Klapper and Brian Brogan teamed for a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles and Hull and Askew joined forces for a tight 7-6 (2), 7-5 win.

Simon Cheng and Jay Wong lost a 7-5, 7-6 (3) heartbreaker at No. 1 doubles. "But (Wong and Cheng) are probably the two best 10-and-under players in the state," said Sunderland. "They have tremendous futures in tennis."

Cheng had gone three sets before losing 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1 singles for Courtside. Brogan lost 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles and Wong lost 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3.

"All six of these players have great potential," Sunderland said. "This was one of the strongest 12-and-under teams in Gar Glenney Cup history."

Cabrillo was the defending state champion in the division, beating Courtside 6-3 in the finals, held at Stanford a year ago. A year earlier, Courtside had won the state title in the division.

Wong was voted the team's most valuable player at the season's end. Brogan was picked the most inspirational player and Hull the most improved player.

Alicia Hull, Amanda Wise and Laura Chen were each double winners for the Courtside girls 15 squad in a 7-2 victory over Heritage Park.

Hull nailed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles and later teamed with Cristi Green for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles.

"That was a great three-set win," Sunderland said of Hull's singles victory.

Wise was a 6-2, 6-2 winner at No. 4 singles and Chen posted a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles. The two combined for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles. Wise and Chen were both unbeaten in singles play this season.

Megan Kawahara joined the list of Courtside singles winners with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 5.

Cindy Manit, who dropped a tough 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 nod at No. 1 singles, joined forces with Clair Najour for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.

"The girls won all three doubles matches," Sunderland said. "All three were tough three-setters. That showed our teamwork--the doubles won it for us."

Green lost 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles in the only other match contested.

Manit was selected as the team's most valuable player. Wise was tabbed the most inspirational player and Najour the most improved player.

The only NorCal losses at the finals were in the girls 18 (Courtside lost 8-1 to Chino) and girls 12-and-under divisions.

Michelle Forrest battled back after losing the first set 6-0 to post back-for-back 6-3 victories in the second and third sets to win at No. 1 singles for the Courtside girls 18 team.

To qualify for the Cup finals, teams had to win league and NorCal championships.

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