Tennis Notebook: El Toro Packs a Potent One-Two Punch

Juggling his jersey, shoes and tennis bag, Gannon Daynes came running toward the tennis courts at San Juan Hills High on Tuesday afternoon, arriving just in time for his Sea View League tennis match.

The El Toro junior was coming from Claremont, where he was competing in a USTA International Tennis Federation tournament.

The difference in the level of competition Daynes faced that day proved far greater than the 50-plus miles between matches. But that's just how life is for the No. 8-ranked 16-under boys player in Southern California.

“I had a really good win today at the tournament in Claremont,” said Daynes as he prepared to face his first San Juan Hills opponent.  “I beat a tough player in Caryl Hernandez.”

After his tough 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory in Claremont, he breezed to two consecutive 6-0 victories at San Juan Hills and was subbed out of his third match.

Daynes, a left-hander, hit his forehand with power into both corners of the court. He smashed several aces and put tremendous spin on a couple of serves that kicked well above his opponent's head.  Perhaps the most impressive part of Daynes' game, however, was the way he set up his points.

Daynes, who possesses intelligence, physical skills and support from his coaching family, appears well on his way to defending his league singles title.

“Geeze, I don’t even know what my record is [for high school tennis],” he thought out loud.  “All I know is that I’m undefeated.”

Daynes began playing tennis at the age of 4 at the encouragement of his grandmother, who the entire Chargers team affectionately refers to as "Mimi."

“We have been travelling since Gannon was 12,” Mimi said. “We go to Florida for tournaments, all over the country, he loves it.”

Mimi not only travels with her grandson but also helps coach him.

“I’m a tennis player myself and when it comes to tennis, we are straight-shooters with each other,” she said emphatically.  “You know what else though? He’s a really nice guy.”

And such a very talented player, according to El Toro coach Karen Amos, who added: “He hits with power; he hits with incredible top spin.”

Some of the San Juan Hills parents in attendance were overheard saying in astonishment, “Have you seen their No. 1 singles player?” To which some of the Stallions' players replied, “Have you seen the No. 2  serve?”

Number 2 would be sophomore Jason Amos, the coach's son whose father is the women's tennis coach at Saddleback College.

Amos is ranked No. 50 among 16-under boys in Southern California, but maybe that's because he got a little bit of a later start than Daynes. Amos picked up a racket at the age of 5.

An aggressive baseline player with a powerful serve as well.  He put these skills to use against San Juan Hills.

He didn’t drop a game all day, winning all three of his matches 6-0.

Last year, Amos reached the quarterfinals of the league's singles tournament and, naturally, looks to go farther this year.  He said he receives a lot of tennis advice from his parents and its obvious to see that he is putting it to good use.

Daynes and Amos have El Toro off to a 5-0 start in league play and their next toughest match figures to be their last of the regular season, when the Chargers travel to Tesoro for a 3 p.m. contest on April 28.

No. 1's and No. 2's Preferences

Favorite professional tennis player?

Daynes: British right-hander Andy Murray -- "He really is smart out there."

Amos:  Roger Federer -- "He has completeness to his game.”

Music listened to before playing a match?

Daynes: Eminem

Amos: rock

Favorite movie?

Daynes: "The Hangover"

Amos: "Forest Gump"

Favorite fast-food?

Daynes and Amos agreed: Chipotle

Top Tennis Tips

Are you ready to learn to play tennis like a former President?  Well, you might not play like George H. W. Bush, but you’re about to get the same advice on how to hit an effective forehand as our 41st president received from Sage Hill coach A.G. Longoria.

When Longoria was living in Texas he was approached by the Secret Service and asked if he would be available to give Bush, then the sitting president, a couple of lessons.  Longoria happily agreed.

“Sometimes they would call me at 10 at night or 4 in the morning to give a lesson,” Longoria said.  “He was a pretty good player back then.  I’d say he was about a 3.5.”  That ranking system, used by the National Tennis Rating Program, means that the former President had good shot dependability and was able to direct his shots as well.

Longoria has a number of ties to Texas.  He was the member of the 1963 NCAA National Championship team at the University of Texas.  He also coached at University of North Texas and University Texas-Pan American.

He has been the coach at Sage Hill for the past 11 years; the only coach in the school’s history.  During his tenure, the Lightning has moved up from Division 5 to Division 4, and this year jumped to Division 3.  These moves were all based on the success of the program.

Sage Hill is currently in sole possession of first place in the Academy League. The Lightning won their last match against St. Margaret’s, 13-5.  The team is ranked number 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 coaches' poll. 

Team captain, senior Andrew Kurzweil, said Longoria has “helped a lot with volleys and double strategy.” 

Senior Sean Etten, who this fall will be attending UC Merced, where he wants to play club tennis, said he has “made a lot of improvement this year because of the coaching.”

So check out the Tennis Notebook's accompanying video, and learn how to hit a solid forehand from your new coach, A.G. Longoria.

Breakers Sweep Orange Coast

Laguna Beach didn’t lose many sets this week.  Heck, they didn’t lose that many games either.           

Led by outstanding underclassmen, the Breakers, ranked No. 3 in the Division 4 coaches' poll, defeated Orange Coast League rivals Godinez, 18-0, on Tuesday; Estancia, 14-4, on Wednesday, and Costa Mesa, 17-1, on Thursday.

Against Estancia, junior Hutton McKenna and sophomores Morgan and Owen Weber swept their sets, and the Webers didn't drop a game. The doubles team of sophomores Austin Loomis and Morgan Lebby won its sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0.

Switching things up against Costa Mesa on Thursday, Laguna Beach had three different players in singles, but it didn't make a bit of difference. Seniors Jake Michaels and Bonito Romeo and sophomore Teague Hamilton each won their sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. The Breakers won 107 games, compared to Costa Mesa's 17.

"We have had a dominate week. We did not lose a game in any of our singles
matches against Costa Mesa," Breakers coach Peter Davidson said. "The kids are getting psyched up for the CIF playoffs and we are moving the doubles teams around so the guys can play with different partners. They are getting along well and it is nice to see the team having fun."

Next up for Laguna Beach are a couple of nonleague home matches, against Sage Hill on Tuesday and against Santa Margarita on Friday, April 9, both at 3 p.m.

No Need to Bring Beach Chairs

On May 1-2, make sure you grab a seat on the couch to check out the South Coast League tennis finals.  No, the match isn’t going to be televised, but at the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club spectators can check out the action as if they were at home.

With couches in front of windows overlooking the courts and birds-eye views from balconies, the LNRC is the perfect place to watch some of South Orange County's best high school tennis come tournament time.

The LNRC hosts six junior tournaments every year and has seen the likes of formerly top 50 ranked players Taylor Dent and the next American superstar, Ryan Harrison, play on its courts.

“These events are really well-attended and they are usually pretty exciting,” said Mark Spearman, the facility's director of tennis. “The tennis at the league finals is at a pretty high level”

Will senior Trevor Dell from Dana Hills, who is going for this fourth consecutive league singles title, be one of the names mentioned when talk turns to the best players to roll through the LNRC in the future?  Or will Trabuco Hills junior Jonathan Poon, ranked No. 24 in 16-under in the state, create his own legacy with an upset of Dell? How will sophomore Ryan Mariano of San Clemente fare?

Grab a seat on the sofa and find out.

Looking Ahead

While many teams will be enjoying spring break next week, others will continue to pound the pavement.

Corona del Mar has three consecutive Pacific Coast League matches on the road, with games at Beckman on Tuesday and Northwood on Thursday sandwiching the meat of the weeks' schedule: Another showdown with Woodbridge and its No. 1 singles player, Patrick Lipscomb, on Wednesday.

The Sea Kings defeated the Warriors, 11-7, Tuesday at Corona del Mar High.

Other matches, all beginning at 3 p.m., next week:

-- Los Alamitos has a nonleague home match on Wednesday against Chadwick of Palos Verdes and a Sunset League match at Fountain Valley on Thursday.

-- Newport Harbor has three consecutive Sunset League matches: Tuesday at Fountain Valley, Wednesday at Marina and Thursday against visiting Huntington Beach.

-- Santa Margarita, in addition to its nonleague match at Laguna Beach on Friday, has a Trinity League match Wednesday at home against Orange Lutheran.

-- Sage Hill, which plays a nonleague match at Laguna Beach on Tuesday, has Academic League matches on Thursday at home against Crean Lutheran and on the road Friday at Brethren Christian.

Matt Garvey's "Tennis Notebook" appears weekly on all Orange County Patch sites.