Coach of the year: Christopher Combs, East
Coach of the year: Christopher Combs, East
Turns out, it didn't take magic tricks or voodoo dolls or lineup gyrations to win the first boys tennis Central Section title in East High's 72-year history.
It just took talented players and a coach, Christopher Combs, who wasn't afraid to stack them straight up against anyone else.
And so, in the Division II section final against Visalia-El Diamante, home of the section's top two singles players, Combs eschewed any fancy lineup changes and went for the gusto. The result? A convincing 7-2 victory and the championship that Combs clearly stated was this season's goal from the beginning.
"We had beaten them in Clovis (in a tiebreaker early in the year), so I felt confident," said Combs, The Californian's Boys Tennis Coach of the Year. "I was going to go straight down my ladder, because I felt like they had to make the move."
As it turned out, East No. 1 player D.J. Johnson upset El Diamante's Josh Lorentzen anyway and rendered the lineup changes moot. It wouldn't be a stretch to say Combs' confidence had stretched to his players.
"We've always had good teams, competitive teams," Combs said. "But to seal the deal against a two-time defending champion in El Diamante? It's just incredible. That day was amazing and a blur. Even today, I just talk to the guys and say, 'How cool was that?'"
-- Zach Ewing
Player of the Year History
Singles player of the Year
2010 D.J. Johnson, East
2009 Jeremy Quiroz, Stockdale
2008 Jeremy Quiroz, Stockdale
2007 Alex Nichols, Bakersfield Christian
2006 Aaron Cooke, Bakersfield Christian
2005 Paul Wetterholm, Ridgeview
2004 Neil Gehlawat, Stockdale
2003 Neil Gehlawat, Stockdale
2002 Joel Wetterholm, Ridgeview
2001 Tim Lynott, Stockdale
2000 Ryan Haymond, Centennial
1999 Ryan Haymond, Centennial
1998 Ryan Haymond, Centennial
1997 Mark Windes, Centennial
1996 Tony Congdon, Centennial
1995 Pol Mendoza, West
1994 Mark Windes, Garces
1993 Nick Herndon, Foothill, and Wil Sanchez, Garces
1992 Pablo Stuardo, Wasco, and Nick Herndon, Foothill
1991 Kevin Haymond, Bakersfield
1990 Steve Noel, Bakersfield
1989 Steve Noel, Bakersfield
1988 Joe Vidaurreta, Garces
1987 Mike Noel, Bakersfield
1986 Joe Vidaurreta, Garces, and Mike Noel, Bakersfield
1985 Scott Robertson, Garces, and Mike Noel, Bakersfield
1984 Scott Robertson, Garces
Doubles team of the Year
2010 Eric Kong and Michael Rice, Liberty
2009 Blaine Davenport and Pierre Tamer, Stockdale
2008 MIchael Rodriguez and David Mossman, Bakersfield
2007 David Swain and Tim Goossen, Stockdale
2006 Tony Robles and Michael Haddad, Stockdale
2005 Ryan Newbrough and Neil Gehlawat, Stockdale
2004 Ryan Newbrough and Andy Reese, Stockdale
2003 Ryan Newbrough and Andy Reese, Stockdale
2002 Ryan Newbrough and Andy Reese, Stockdale
2001 Bryn Mercado and Jordan Widelock, Bakersfield
2000 Marc and Mike Johns, Centennial
1999 Marc and Mike Johns, Centennial
1998 Tomislav Sokolic and Jimmy Bates, Centennial
1997 Adam Miller and Steven Steiber, Garces
1996 Shea Mercado and Sam Shaw, Bakersfield
1995 Aaron Miller and Oliver Sanchez, Garces
1994 Aaron Miller and Oliver Sanchez, Garces
1993 Ryan Maul and Aaron Miller, Garces
1992 Yu Truong and Andy Wattenbarger, West
1991 Soni Gill and Robert Limpias, Bakersfield
1990 Jojo Butlig and Danny Warrington, West
1989 Jojo and Richard Butlig, West
1988 Jojo and Richard Butlig, West
1987 Mark Segesta and Bill Terry, Garces
1986 Mark Segesta and Scott Howry, Bakersfield
1985 No doubles selection
1984 Tore Lindso and Geraldo Guimaraes, East
Coach of the Year History
2010 Christopher Combs, East
2009 John Bailey, Tehachapi
2008 Robert Smith, West
2007 Barb Johnston, Garces
2006 Frank Thiessen, Bakersfield Christian
2005 Charles Anderson, Highland
2004 Bryan Campoy, Stockdale
2003 Barbara Johnston, Garces
2002 Frank Thiessen, Wasco
2001 Andy Cantrell, Stockdale
2000 Chuck Beatty, Centennial
1999 Chuck Beatty, Centennial
1998 Frank Thiessen, Wasco
1997 Lela Steiber, Garces
1996 Eric Lampson, Centennial
1995 Andy Cantrell, Stockdale
1994 Ray Detz, Bakersfield
1993 Nelson Banes, Garces
1992 Nelson Banes, Garces
1991 Frank Thiessen, Wasco
1990 Frank Thiessen, Wasco
1989 Mark Brown, Garces