Player of the Year: D.J. Johnson, East
Player of the Year: D.J. Johnson, East
D.J. Johnson's mastery of Kern County tennis opponents is easy to gauge.
He never lost a singles match to anyone in the county this season.
The East High sophomore went 31-3 and was the No. 1 player on a Blades team that won the first Central Section boys tennis title in the school's 72-year history.
Johnson, who was also undefeated in doubles, is The Californian's All-Area Boys Tennis Player of the Year.
When East captured the Central Section Division II team title with a 7-2 win against Visalia-El Diamante, it put a fitting exclamation point on Johnson's season.
He got the Blades off to a quick start that day with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Josh Lorentzen, the three-time individual Central Section runner-up.
"I hadn't beaten Josh in three (tries)," Johnson said. "To finally do it in the Valley championship was pretty awesome. That was my highlight of the season."
The Liberty duo of Michael Rice and Eric Kong (photo below), both juniors, are The Californian's Doubles Team of the Year after their run to the Central Section semifinals. They lost just twice as a doubles team in the regular season and were the only locals in action on the final day of the individual championships, in which they took fourth.
Johnson was seeded fourth in the singles tournament but was beaten in the quarterfinals by fifth-seeded Tyler Jackson from Reedley-Immanuel.
Lorentzen knocked Johnson out of the individual tournament a year earlier in the quarterfinals.
Johnson is already thinking about one of his goals for next season: winning the individual section title.
"That's my main goal. I want to do that so badly," Johnson said. "I've put a lot of thought into that."
Johnson is a two-time Southeast Yosemite League singles champion who just kept improving as this season progressed, East coach Christopher Combs said.
"He got a bigger serve, and during the year he played a lot smarter," Combs said. "By the end of the year, he was playing much better. He trusted his strokes. ... That was his biggest thing: believing in his game."
Johnson is staying busy this summer by playing in Southern California tournaments.
Johnson was ranked No. 24 in a recent poll of 16-and-under players from Southern California. He had reached No. 7 in SoCal (and No. 149 in the nation) when he competed in the 14-and-under age group.
"I'm barely turning 16, so I have another year to improve on that," he said.
But he still is focusing on high school play.
"Most kids playing in Southern California care more about nationals," Johnson said. "I care about high school a lot. I love playing for my team."
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