Lower-level tennis thriving

CHRIS YEMMA

Tennis in Southern California is king. It brings out a competitive

nature in a civilized manner, along the same lines as golf. No

referees, no time limit or shot clock, no hecklers and no foul play

-- it’s just whack, smack, an occasional grunt, and game, set, match.

And in the Newport-Mesa area, tennis thrives, but it all starts on

the smallest level.

“Probably most of my players started when they were 8- to

10-years-old,” Newport Harbor High junior varsity girls coach Jeff

Thomsen said. “A lot of players grow up in tennis families in this

area. We get good players coming into the program who already have a

lot of good experience.”

Thomsen is among one of the many in the Newport-Mesa area that

sees to the development of the younger players and makes sure they

will be ready and competitive at the higher levels. He coaches the

junior varsity girls, along with the Newport varsity boys, and he has

seen a lot of talent come through the program. He sees a lot of

players come though, period.

But because tennis is such a popular sport in Southern California,

it makes it much harder for players to stand out. Coming from the

players’ side, that might not be the greatest of news, but coming

from a coach’s side, that’s great news.

It shows on Thomsen’s junior varsity squad. His team is 29-0 in

the last two seasons with back-to-back Sea View League titles. His

junior varsity players could qualify as varsity players in other

parts of the country.

But in Southern California, a tennis mecca, the kids have to go

through the ranks.

“We had about 60 players come and try out for the team over the

summer, so we had a nice crop to select from,” Thomsen said. “This is

one of the toughest places to play tennis. Southern California,

Florida and Texas seem to produce a lot of junior players.”

The most obvious explanation of that would be attributed to the

climate. The climate in those three states is reasonably temperate

all year long, aside from the blazing Texas summer heat and the

sticky Florida humidity.

Blistering heat, though, isn’t going to stop a tennis match like a

snowstorm would.

“In this area, the weather has a lot to do with it,” Thomsen said.

“It’s nice all year round, and tennis is something they can grow up

and do their whole life.”

Thomsen has a wide array of players on his junior varsity team,

ranging from freshmen to seniors. His team’s most recent accolade was

freshman singles player Allie Shea winning the league in the junior

varsity girls individual finals Wednesday. He also had doubles

teammates Avalon Sigalos-Katie Holder advance to the finals in the

league individual competition.

And he said there’s more still to come.

“There’s a few that have serious potential,” Thomsen said. “It all

depends on what they do in the off season. They can advance

themselves through off season tournaments and by gaining rankings.”

The season is over now for the girls junior varsity sailors, and

Thomsen will go into tennis hibernation until the springtime. But

when the boys’ season begins, he will have another nice crop to

choose from.