Tennis teams trying to become kings of the court
Playoffs begin today
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

LET'S GET IT STARTED- Eric Knipprath and the Marmonte League champion Westlake Warriors host El Toro today at 3 p.m. in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs.

After going undefeated during the regular season, Westlake High's boys' tennis team will now try and earn a trip to the CIFSouthern Section Division I finals at the Claremont Club on May 30.

The Warriors earned the No. 1 seed out of the Marmonte League and will host El Toro in the first round of the playoffs, which begin today.

"I don't know too much about El Toro except that they play in the same league as Woodbridge, who we played earlier in the year," Westlake head coach Connie Flanderka said. "When we played Woodbridge they were tough to beat, so I figure El Toro will be the same."

If Westlake gets by El Toro, it'll set up a possible match with tennis powerhouse Dana Hills, the No. 1 seed out of the South Coast League.

"Dana Hills has been a great team for many years, but I think we are capable of beating them this year," Flanderka said. "I think we have a lot of depth on our team this year, and on any given day anyone on our team can beat anyone."

WHS is known for its great doubles play, led by seniors Michael Chang and Kevin Gross. Juniors Dominic Insogna and Jonathan Kotzin are vital, too.

On the singles side, WHS has junior Ian Stanley and senior Tony Carucci to help get points.

The rest of the Marmonte League was shaken up after Agoura had to forfeit four matches after using an ineligible player.

The four losses dropped the Chargers to the No. 4 seed out of the Marmonte League, while Calabasas and Thousand Oaks moved up to the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.

Although Calabasas has been a powerhouse in the playoffs in years past, the 2007 squad is very young and isn't expected to go as far. Head coach Kim Kinberg, however, is expecting the team to learn a lot during the postseason.

"With as young as this team is, I believe the main goal is to gain a lot of playoff experience," Kinberg said.

Calabasas is matched up in the first round on the road today against San Marcos, who earned a No. 2 seed out of the Channel League.

Thousand Oaks will play on the road today at University, the Pacific Coast League's No. 1 seed.

Agoura will also be on the road when they take on Peninsula, who was the No. 1 seed out of the Bay League. Agoura will be counting on sophomore Darren Dohl to help get points. Dohl is one of the best singles players in the county.

In the Division III bracket, Oaks Christian will host Torrance today after earning the No. 1 seed out of the Tri-Valley League.

The Lions will be led by freshman Sean Levesque, who went 33-0 playing singles his first year.

"He's a little kid, so when other teams see him they think he will be easy to beat," Oaks Christian head coach Steve Abraham said. "Obviously he has been anything but. His court sense is just amazing."

The doubles play of juniors Eric Hawkins and Michael Lee should also be a factor for OCHS.

"Eric and Michael became very good friends as alternates their freshman year," Abraham said. "During their sophomore year they started entering themselves in any doubles competition they could find and started to get really good."

Other double players that should help get points for the Lions will be sophomores Chris Grasmick and Wyatt Myers.

Oaks Christian's rival, Oak Park, received the No. 2 seed out of the Tri-Valley League and will go on the road today to play Crossroads, the No. 2 seed from the Olympic League.

In the Division IV bracket, Viewpoint will strive to continue its dominance in boys' tennis as they look to earn a fourth straight CIF championship. The Patriots earned the No. 1 overall seed in the division and will host Mayfair High.

All tennis matches will begin at 3 p.m. this afternoon.