By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
Arroyo High School used to be an afterthought in boys tennis. Then sophomore Sam Ho entered the picture. The Knights have since set school history by advancing to the CIF-Southern Section divisional finals each of the past two years. Ho has led those efforts with a near-perfect record when it counted most – during the playoffs. For his efforts, Ho is the Tribune’s boys tennis Player of the Year. (To continue, click thread).
2010 ALL-AREA BOYS TENNIS
First Team
Coach of the year: Kelley Wong, Rowland
Player of the year: Sam Ho, Arroyo, So.
Singles: Marcelo Bautista, Rowland, Sr.
Singles: Phillip Kozan, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Singles: Thinh Tran, Arroyo, Sr.
Doubles: Terry Mork, Sr./Austin Chen, Sr., Diamond Bar
Doubles: Kelvin Wong, Sr./Adam Yu, Sr., Rowland
Doubles: erry Holmes, Sr./Bryan Pham, Sr., Arroyo
Second Team
Singles: Michael Vuong, Rowland, Sr.
Singles: James Beardsley, San Dimas, Jr.
Singles: Albert Lee, Wilson, Sr.
Doubles: Alvin Li, Jr./Jonathan Tang, Jr., South Hills
Doubles: Brian Ledyard, Sr./Josh Thompson, Sr., San Dimas.
Doubles: George Karatorosyan, Sr./David Schiebe, Sr., Bonita
Ho is joined on the All-Area first team by singles players Marcelo Bautista of Rowland; Phillip Kozan of Diamond Bar and Arroyo teammate Thinh Tran. The doubles team consists of Diamond Bar’s Terry Mork and Austin Chen; Rowland’s Kelvin Wong and Adam Yu and Arroyo’s Jerry Holmes Bryan Pham.
Rowland’s Kelley Wong, who led the Raiders to their second divisional final in the past three seasons, is Coach of the Year.
“I look back on the season and think what we accomplished as a team and it makes me very proud,” said Ho, who fought off an ankle injury early in the season to finish strong, including winning all three of his sets during Arroyo’s 10-8 setback to Arlington in the Division 5 final.
“Individually, my teammates helped me tremendously. They motivated me and helped me become a better player.”
The Knights went 20-0 in the Mission Valley League the past two seasons.
Ho also was Mission Valley League singles champion and advanced two rounds at the CIF-SS individual championships.
“To get to back-to-back CIF finals is a great achievement for the school and for me as an individual,” he said. “Tennis wasn’t popular here before, so we’ve brought attention to our sport and our school.
“This is a great group of guys to be associated with and to achieve something like this is great. We hope to continue it.”
Wong earned her second Coach of the Year honor this school year after leading Rowland to the Division 4 final, where it lost to Viewpoint on games. Wong was girls tennis Coach of the Year in the fall after the Raiders became the only area team to advance to the semifinals.
Bautista was a key factor in Rowland advancing to the finals. He also was San Antonio League singles champion and advanced two rounds during the individual championships.
Kozan led Diamond Bar’s road to the Division 2 semifinals. He was runner-up in the Sierra League.
Tran was part of Arroyo’s one-two punch with Ho and finished second to his teammate for the Mission Valley League title. He also had some big wins during the Knights’ playoff run.
Mork and Chen also sparked Diamond Bar’s playoff run. They finished second in the Sierra League and were the only competitors – singles or doubles – to advance to the round of 16 during the CIF-SS individual championships.
Wong and Yu formed Rowland’s most successful doubles team and finished second in the San Antonio League.
Holmes and Pham also played a part in Arroyo’s success. They won the Mission Valley League championship.
steve.ramirez@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2296
