Bakersfield Christian continues dominance in Division V with another title
| Wednesday, May 20 2009 11:29 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, May 20 2009 11:33 AM
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Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis David Stevens stretches to return the ball back to his rival Amit Gill of Fowler. David lost 6-3 and 6-4.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis Alex Nichols shows his delight after scoring and winning the first match against Fowlers Thomas Hernandez.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis David Stevens and Alex Nichols give fives to one another after winning the doubles match against Amit and Evan Gill of Fowler.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis Alex Nichols gives the return his all in the singles match. Alex won 6-0 and 6-1 over his opponent from Fowler Thomas Hernandez.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis David Stevens stretches to return the ball back to his rival Amit Gill of Fowler. David lost 6-3 and 6-4.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis Alex Nichols scores on this return to his opponent Thomas Hernandez of Fowler.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis Alex Nichols shows his delight after scoring and winning the first match against Fowlers Thomas Hernandez.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis David Stevens (left) and Alex Nichols (right) Bumb chest after winning the first match.
Rod Thornburg /Special to The Californian BCHS Tennis David Stevens and Alex Nichols give fives to one another after winning the doubles match against Amit and Evan Gill of Fowler.
It won't go down as the most dominant championship victory in Frank Thiessen's highly successful stint as the Bakersfield Christian boys tennis coach. But the Eagles' 5-4 victory against visiting Fowler on Tuesday was no less special to the veteran coach for other reasons.
"Before, we had players that were all established," Thiessen said. "This year's team did not have all the experience that the other teams had. But it ranks right at the top in that they did at the end what they had to do to win the title."
Alex Nichols beat Thomas Hernandez 6-1, 6-0 and then teamed with Dave Stevens to down cousins Amit and Evan Gill 6-1, 7-5 to lead top-seeded BCHS (12-2) to its fifth straight Division V title.
The Eagles were without one of their top players, Jon Wulfekuehler, who fractured his right ankle during practice Thursday.
The loss was just the second for No. 2 Fowler (20-2).
Nichols, the section singles champion as a sophomore two years ago, was the only double winner for the BCHS.
"Being on this team for four years and finishing out like this feels good," Nichols said. "Everyone had to step up their game. I think it was a great team effort."
The Eagles also got victories from Josh Bligh, Nolan Karnes and Greg Merrill to lead 4-2 going into doubles action.
Needing just one victory to clinch the title and with Wulfekuehler in street clothes, Thiessen paired up Nichols and Stevens despite the fact they hadn't played doubles together all season.
That didn't seem to bother the duo early as they wasted little time winning the first set 6-1. Nichols' blistering serves and solid teamwork helped the pair take a 3-1 lead in the second set before Gill and Gill rebounded to win four of the next six games. With the second set tied 5-5, Nichols and Stevens broke Amit Gill's serve and then quickly closed out the title-clinching victory.
"It's totally an honor to play with (Nichols)," Stevens said. "It was fun. We both played aggressive."
Thiessen had little doubt Nichols and Stevens would get the needed result.
"It comes down to the fact that Stevens is a senior and Nichols is a senior, and I thought putting them together would be just great," Thiessen said. "It was for the championship their senior year, and they came through."
