San Juan Capistrano, CA — Great Season! So Far!

Newport Coast, CA — The Lions stayed the course today after dropping first round, 1 - 5.

Fullerton, CA — JSerra clinched the outright Trinity League Championship today in the most epic fashion!

San Juan Capistrano, CA — Almost pulled off a dozen bagels today.... Braves only forfeited 6 sets today, instead of the 12 sets they did last time!

San Juan Capistrano, CA — 'Winning Ugly' is a tennis booked penned by Brad Gilbert. The Lions were the front page of this book today! BUT, got it done in the next to last set...Mickey and Marco, pulled off a huge upset in one of the only 2 doubles sets captured by our duos. Today was a 7 set sweep by single players; Zach and Brady took 3 each and Cole grounded an Eagle for the second time.

Fountain Valley, CA — Trap games are no fun, especially away in 30+ mph wind gales. Very worrisome start as JSerra had trouble getting out of the gates. Down in two pivotal sets, JSerra put the stop to the skids, turned the tide with some timely service breaks to take round 1, 4-2. Rounds 2 and 3 both followed suit for a 8-, round 2 lead and a 12-6 finale. The matches were much tighter than the score shows and KOach felt fortunate to avoid the trap door.

Anaheim, CA — Great revenge game today! Last time the Lions were at OLu, we lost on a 9-9, 73-34 game count verdict, which kept us from the CIF playoffs.

San Juan Capistrano, CA — JSerra doubles carried their weight today, but, it wouldn't have mattered had Zach not upset Servite's top player in the 2nd round! Brady was on Mission Possible ll as he again, in24 hours, takes 6 sets of 6. Duos = Joe Bond playing against his old school with Cade; they posted a round 1 win that basically won the match for us in the beginning. The Charlie/Cade, Gary/Connor and Mikey/Marco proceeded to capture 4 of the last 6 doubles sets for a total of 9 to cinch the final.

San Juan Capistrano, CA — Best opener ever... 14 - 4 over Mater Dei sets the tone for the season as the Lions venture into Trinity League play. "Not gonna lie" states KOach, I was worried until kickoff, then I was fine, kinda sensed it during warmups to be honest. But, we had a GREAT collegiate-like practice Monday, our best of the season, and that is when I felt calm." The coaching staff worked hard to get the boys there, the rest was up to them. "We can only do so much, then they need to get out and play."

San Juan Capistrano, CA — The Lions broke the breakers today, quite a few times..

SANTA ANA, CA — but, we did gang up on Foothill today, beating one of OC's strongest teams, year in and year out.

Huntington Beach, CA — Back to our roots as JSerra traveled to Huntington Beach High School, where the Orahood brothers started there long-tenured tennis journies and short lived football 'careers'. Keith, Kent and I played on these courts for 2 years before Edison HS was built; Keith and I had spring football for the Chargers, on the grass we walked by and I even got cut from basketball on those outdoor courts we trapesed across. Flood of memories for us eveytime we visit, more reason for us to perform well. "We like to win here," states KOach Kirk, "but, 'Bradyless in HB' made for tough sailing." JSerra's doubles teams could only conjure up 1 set, which wasn't enough to help out a great singles outing. Gary with Connor were cruising vs HB's line 3 dubs when they 'tapped out' with an 'injury'. Our doubles suffered 2 real close tiebreaker losses which could have teetered in either direction, but in the other 6 sets that we lost, the Lions only totaled only 12 out of 54 games. "We will be looking inward to find a long-term solution for our duos."

Irvine, CA — JSerra varsity tennis moves to 4 wins no losses on the year with a 14-4 victory in Irvine, over Crean Lutheran. The Saints have a very formidable line 1 doubles and 2 strong singles, their team is stronger than the score suggests. Zach and Brady captured their customary 3 set sweeps which Gary and Connor matched in their doubles sets. Just like yesterdays post, "there's your 9 right there". Marco and Charlie picked up 2 doubles sets. Emilio and HB subbed in, taking a round 3 doubles set. BUT, best for last, Mikey Junge provided all the entertainmet in round 3, coming from behind 1-5, forcing a tiebreaker, fought off several match points, before succumbing 7-9 in the breaker. "Apparently", there was a dog kennel close by and it was very disruptive for both players.

San Juan Capistrano, CA — Hard to believe KOach was worried during round 1 that this was going to be 'Bad Day at Black Rock'...but, the LIONS rebounded quickly in round 2, and Tesoro's coach subbed liberally between round 2 and 3 ....aka, threw in the towel as JSerra picked up their 9th set prior to the 3rd round. Great sweeps by Zach and Brady and at line 1 dubs with Gary and Connor; there's your 9 right there. Subs, HB Warner in singles and Peter Zang with Hudson Aase added to the total.. HB's record is 4-1 in his inaugural year as a Lion netter. Also, Mikey/Marco may have picked up MVP honors had they remained in for round three. KOach was really happy with Caden Faul who lost 2 real close matches in his singles debut this year. AND happy with Cole and Charlie who pulled out a heated set at line 2 after dropping their opening set vs line 3.

Laguna Hills, CA — How would you like to face the Great Bambino, then Lou Gehrig and then Ted Williams as a pitcher of yesteryear?!?! Well, that's what Villa park had to do today vs JSerra. VP started their ace at #2 today vs Brock Bowman.. in an epic 1.5 hour 1 set match, Brock fought back again and again, breaking serve at 5 - 6 to get into the tiebreaker where he got a quick lead and never looked back! Brock upset this player and then Zach Champine steps up and provides the knockout punch ALSO in a tiebreaker. BUT, the damage that Brock inflicted was insurmountable!

San Juan Capistrano, CA — JSerra celebrated senior day while hosting St. John Bosco and serving up a senior sauce 12 - 6 victory. The Lions captured 8 of the 9 possible doubles sets; seniors Brock Bowman with Sean Delaney sweeping 3 sets dropping only 2 single games! Nick Dubrow with Aiden German also swept giving up only 3 games! Zach Champine, who is on fire, swept all 3 sets, avenging a earlier loss to Bosco's #1 player. Luke and Anthony took 2 sets rounding up doubles tally.

SJCap, CA — Playing SM, early in the season is not fun.PLaying them the day before Easter break without one of your top players is no fun at all. The home version of our league's home/away format saw the Lions, the full-strength version reverse the previous score of 8-10 to a satisfying 10-8.

Fountain Valley, CA — KOach missed 1st MDei match due to operation, but, was with team today with Danny missing, due to injury. Looking at the previous scorecard; erasing Danny's 3 wins, making adjustments for 'home field advantage' and pulling a jv player up to accompany us, the new Vegas publication, Koaches Kalculations, had the line at JSerra 10 MDei 8.. good thing he is not a betting man!

San Juan Capistrano, CA — OLu showed up today with some solid singles players and 1 really good doubles team.

San Juan Capistrano, CA — Coaches had to both run out for bottles of "Grecian Formula" after today. Both Varsity and JV won 9 - 9 on total game count... Once again proving that it really is a total team sport! Brocks bagel[s] (long story); got "captained" on set point in round 1, coupled with Danny's bagels and then Brock and Zach's great efforts in [especially] their last sets avoiding any chance for the Friars to catch us in the game count. "But wait!, there's more!" In round 3, my 1 and 2 doubles teams, Gary Davidson with Aiden German and Nick Dubrow, respectively, were both down, late... Gary and Sean fought off a no ad point on a long rally at 5 - 5 on a fantastic long rally, where Friar Tuck had a point blank shot at Sean, trying to turn him in to Ichabod Crane, but, the fence got in the way! If it was a letter, it would've been charged double for airmail!. Aiden and Nick were in a similar predicament, got the break and PROMPTLY held serve to close out the win! Had these 2 teams not rallyed, game count wouldn't mean a thing. Yes, we were that close to a 11 - 7 loss...

Lakewood, CA — Missing 5 bona fide starters, JSerra sheepishly crept into Lakewood CC this afternoon, shuffling lineup suggestions amongst each other. KOach finally settled on what he thought would be best producing in respect to total games [should the sets be tied 9-9] Koach Kirk's record vs Bosco is 24 - 2 over the years, losing twice to the Josh Rosen [yes, THAT Josh Rosen] squad. BIG producers today were our subs, who basically won the match...Michael Woodward with Rodney Culwell won 2 sets in doubles before succumbing to the Braves line #1 team. Brian Chi partnered with Jack Thompson to defeat Bosco's line 3 team easily. Two of these sets were won in round 1, which coupled with Brock's round 1 come from behind, and Zach and Anthony's singles wins, gave the Lions a 6- 0 lead. The quivers were empty at that point and the Lions never looked back. Freshman, Anthony Ashworth got his first ever Trinity League singles win, and elusive prize for young players in this league.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA — We knew we were in for a dog fight today, a heated one at that, literally!

Aliso Viejo, CA — Brock Bowman swept all 3 singles matches as did [other MVP's] Sean Delaney with Gary Davidson, appearing to set up a squeaky win... but, the tough Wolverines gritted their teeth and only allowed us 1 additional set in singles [Zach Champine] and another doubles set from Nick Dubrow with Aiden German. Last year, this was a nail-biter as well, with a 9-9 game count win to the Lions. This is becoming one of our non league 'friendlies' and we are glad to continue this contest yearly, girls and boys. Esteban Johnson joined the team and will be a helpful addition in the doubles lineup as we get ready for Mater Dei on Friday.

Costa Mesa, CA — I guess we could insert different names from the girls match here and call it a day! But, too many good efforts to not be recognized!