SAMOHI — Led primarily by underclassman, the Vikings’ boys tennis team has advanced to the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division II playoffs by defeating Rio Mesa 15-3 at home on Thursday.
Santa Monica High School will host a second round match with San Luis Obispo on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Wilston Poon, who has coached the team for the three years, said he feels comfortable that his team has the goods to advance to the third round and perhaps beyond.
“[San Luis Obispo] is good, but we have a stronger overall team,” Poon said. “They only have a few good guys while we’re really stacked.”
With singles players sophomore Connor Treacy and freshman Christobal Rivera and top doubles duo Patrick Massey and Conrad McKinnon leading the way, Poon feels that his team could even make it as far as the division finals, but sees a formidable opponent in San Marino on the horizon — a team they may face if both teams advance to the third round.
“It’s all about the lineup for tennis,” Poon said. “If you can pair the right guys together you have a chance to win every time.
“If we beat San Marino, I think we can make it to the finals.”
Poon said that a move up to Division II this season has tested his team’s ability, but he welcomes the challenge.
With such a young team, he feels that his team has the overall strength to compete for years to come and even went as far as calling his program “a powerhouse” in the making.
Crossroads tennis loses first round matchup<p>
The season is over for Crossroads’ boys tennis team.
The Roadrunners lost 12-6 to San Luis Obispo spoiling a potential matchup up with crosstown Samohi in the second round.
Crossroads finished the season third in the Olympic League.
New Roads baseball ends season with loss<p>
A tough season for New Roads’ baseball team has come to an end with a 1-12 loss to Lennox Academy on Friday.
The loss was the team’s fifth in a row and seventh out of eight. New Roads finished fourth in the Harbor League. The Jaguars will not receive an automatic bid to the playoffs and an at-large seeding is unlikely. The Jaguars’ final record is 5-14 overall and 2-5 in league.
Crossroads baseball finishes second<p>
With a pair of lopsided wins over Marshall this week, Crossroads’ baseball team has finished second in the Delphic League.
The Roadrunners are assured of earning a spot in the CIF-SS Division VI playoffs, but must wait until Monday to find out who and where they will be playing.
Crossroads finished the season 13-5 overall and 4-3 in league.
“We’re excited,” Co-Head Coach Pat Armstrong said. “It’s our first playoff appearance in three years.
“We’re happy, but we’re not just happy to be here, we want to win.”
