2 The Ojai official 2014 event program President’s Message As always, there is plenty to be excited about elcome to the 114th Ojai Pac-12 women’s Boys’ and Girls’ 18- the 1940s, all junior boys and Tennis Tournament. has always been 16-14 and under, girls were housed in private W Again this year we are hard-hitting and a there will be play homes in the Valley. My excited about the level of joy to watch. sure to amaze you. parents had a home just two competition and the ever- The big change All of us, our blocks from the main courts in expanding tournament. that occurred last active staff of 40, downtown Ojai and always Basically, the tournament is year and will some 500 opened their home to players. the same now as it has been continue this year volunteers and the I would move out of my for the past 100 years, with the is the addition of entire community bedroom, that had twin beds, exception of ever-changing the California of the Ojai Valley, to the shed next to the chicken modern updates that keep the men’s and welcome you to the pen for the duration of the event fresh and exciting. women’s state oldest and largest tournament. That’s just the Alan Rains The level of play in the championships. amateur tennis way we did it in those days. In Open Division has increased That means schools from both tournament held in the same 1957 I was asked to be a part of dramatically in recent years Southern and Northern location in the U.S. the management team, and a and will be at an even higher California will compete in final In 2009, Ojai was voted the few years later, Jan, my wife, level due to perks that bring on matches to determine the state second best tennis town in the joined me and we have been high-quality players. team championship. This will U.S. which, considering the active ever since. I served as The Pac-12 men’s change of be in addition to play later in small size of our little valley, is president from 1998 to 2000 format to team play has added the week to determine the Ojai some feat. when we celebrated our 100th a higher spirit of competition individual community college On a personal note, I have year. And this year, 2014, I among the schools and will champions. been asked from time to time wholeheartedly welcome you again be one of active and As we work on down how long I have been to enjoy The Ojai’s 114th year! vocal play. through Independent Colleges, associated with The Ojai. In President Alan Rains Ojai Valley Tennis Club TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS Pac-12 Housing: ------Nancy Pierson Open Tournament Director: ------Anne Williamson Ball Boys & Girls:-Peter Fagan, Rick Thompson & Brice Pace Pac-12 Tournament Director:------Jeff Jenkins Trophies & Photos:------Jan & Alan Rains Colleges Tournament Director: ------Terry Lynch Volunteer Social: Leslie Gache, Jill Cox & Nikki Neumann Junior Tournament Director: ------Craig Fugle Lunches: ------Robin Neumann Player Activities Liaison:------Mark Weil Umpire Coordinator: ------Jeff Becker I.T.A. Referee/Chief of Umpires:------Jane Goodman Libbey Venue Management: ------John Kretzers, Chair Pac-12 Women’s Referee: ------Joan Vormbaum Vice Chair:------Dennis Jenks Open Referee:------Annette Buck Security:------David Breese Men’s Division III Referee: ------David Martinez Security Assistant:------Terry Wright Junior Referee:------David Martinez Safety:------Tom McCalla Barbecue:------Mark Weil & George Conrad TENNIS CLUB OFFICIALS Orange Juice: ------Roy Bennett President: ------Alan Rains Merchandise Sales: ------Lori Herman Vice President: ------Mike Borders Tournament Physician:------Dr. Kenneth Hartenstein Secretary:------Robin Neumann Libbey Venue Set up:------Bruce Purvine, Chair Treasurer: ------Mandi Roberts Vice Chair: ------Kathleen Rogers YOUTH TENNIS PROGRAMS Ojai Courts — Desk Managers: ------Mike Burke Chair: ------Jakob Vos Venue Set up:------Gary Belshe Vice Chair: ------Craig Fugle Private Courts: ------Carolyn Burke VCJTA Liaison: ------Terry Lynch Private Courts:------Susan Kasser Policy Board: ------Tony Thacher Private Court Monitors: ------Mark Zimmermann Ventura Area — Venue Management: ------Lester Tong TOURNAMENT COMMITTEES Venue Set up: ------Bill Flothmeier Executive Director:------Duane Williamson Merchandise Sales: ------Pam Speitel & Kris Etzler Administration: ------Sandy McElwaine Tickets: ------Brian Ford, Chair Directory & Draw Sheets:------Cynthia Duncan Marketing & Promotion: ------Steve Pratt, BZA PR Libbey Tournament Desk: ------Jan Key Chair: ------Woody Gair Libbey Tournament Desk:------Sandi White Vice Chair: ------Harry Oppenheimer Score Reporting: ------Duane & Rhonda Basore Program:------Vivian Perrett Tournament Scheduling: ------Tina Leslie Sponsors: ------Ronnie Wilson, Chair Volunteer Coordinator: ------Jill Cox Media Relations:------Samuel Eaton Volunteer Coordinator: ------Suzanne St. Claire Info Technology: ------George Walden Competition Support: ------Jim Kasser, Chair Tea Tent:------Mandi Roberts, Chair Accommodations: ------Anne Williamson Vice Chair: ------Anne Kaplan
The Ojai official 2014 event program 3 Schedule of Events
Depending on venue, play generally starts • Pacifica High School: Community Semifinals, Open Men’s Doubles at 8 or 9 a.m. and continues throughout College Men’s Singles & Doubles Quarterfinals and Semifinals, Open the day. Schedule is subject to change • Residence Inn Marriot: Women’s Singles Semifinals, Open without notice. Community College Men’s Singles Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals and • Oxnard High School: Junior Events Semifinals • Ojai Valley Athletic Club: Tuesday, April 22 Independent College Men’s Singles and Doubles, Independent College • Ojai Valley Athletic Club: Men’s and Friday, April 25 Women’s Singles and Doubles, Women’s Open Singles Qualifying OJAI SITES: Community College Men’s Singles Rounds • Libbey Park: Two Pac-12 Men’s and Doubles, Community College Team Dual Matches, Junior Events Women’s Singles and Doubles • Ojai Valley Inn: Open Men’s Wednesday, April 23 • The Thacher School: Division III Singles & Doubles, Open Women’s College Men’s Singles & Doubles • Libbey Park: Two Pac-12 Men’s Singles • Villanova Preparatory School: Team Dual Matches and first round • Ojai Valley Athletic Club: Pac- Selected Junior Event Semifinals CIF matches 12 Women’s Singles & Doubles, • Pierpont Racquet Club and Ventura Pac-12 Women’s Invitational Singles College: Men’s and Women's & Doubles Sunday, April 27 California Community College Team • The Thacher School: Boys’ CIF, • Libbey Park: (all matches are Championships Junior Events Finals, unless otherwise indicated; all • Villanova Preparatory School: Junior starting times are approximate) Thursday, April 24 Events 8 a.m. • Nordhoff High School: Junior Events Pac-12 Women’s Invitational Singles OJAI SITES: VENTURA SITES: Division III College Men’s Singles • Libbey Park: Two Pac-12 Men’s • Pierpont Racquet Club: Semifinals (2) Team Dual Matches, Junior Events Independent College Men’s Singles Community College Men’s Doubles • Ojai Valley Inn: Open Men’s Singles & Doubles Semifinals (2) – Lower Libbey • Ojai Valley Athletic Club: Pac-12 • Ventura College: Community Community College Women’s Women’s Singles, Pac-12 Women’s College Women’s Singles & Doubles, Doubles Semifinals (2) – Lower Invitational Singles Independent College Women’s Libbey • The Thacher School: Boys’ CIF, Singles & Doubles 9:30 a.m. Junior Events • Camino Real Park: Community Open Women’s Singles • Villanova Preparatory School: Junior College Women’s Singles & Doubles Pac-12 Women’s Championship Singles Events • Buena High School: Division III Independent College Men’s Singles • Ojai Valley School Upper Campus: College Men's Singles and Doubles Independent College Women’s Boys’ CIF OXNARD SITES: Singles • Ojai Valley School Lower Campus: • Oxnard Tennis Center:Community 11 a.m. Junior Events College Men’s Singles & Doubles, Open Men’s Singles • Nordhoff High School: Junior Events Division III College Men’s Singles & Pac-12 Women’s Invitational • Matilija Junior High School: Junior Doubles Doubles Events • Pacifica High School: Community Division III College Men’s Singles • Private Courts: Junior Events College Men’s Singles & Doubles Community College Men’s Singles VENTURA SITES: • Residence Inn Marriot: 12:30 p.m. • Pierpont Racquet Club: Community College Men’s Singles & Open Women’s Doubles Independent College Women’s Doubles Pac-12 Women’s Championship Singles & Doubles Doubles • Ventura College: Community Independent College Women’s College Women’s Singles & Doubles, Saturday, April 26 Doubles Independent College Women’s Community College Women’s Singles & Doubles ALL EVENTS IN OJAI: Singles • Libbey Park: Pac-12 Men’s Team • Camino Real Park: Community 2 p.m. Final Dual Match, Pac-12 Women’s College Women’s Singles & Doubles Open Men’s Doubles Championship & Invitational Singles • Buena High School: Community Division III College Men’s Doubles & Doubles Semifinals, All Junior College Women’s Singles & Doubles Independent College Men’s Doubles Event and Boys’ CIF Finals Community College Men’s Doubles OXNARD SITES: • Lower Libbey Park: Selected Junior 3:30 p.m. • Oxnard Tennis Center:Community Event Semifinals Community College Women’s College Men’s Singles & Doubles • Ojai Valley Inn: Open Men’s Singles Doubles
4 The Ojai official 2014 event program The Ojai official 2014 event program 5 Tournament Sponsors Individual and Corporate Venues • Mike Taggart • Coast Mayflower: (805) 646-1234 • City of Ojai – Libbey Park • Ventura Rentals: (805) 644-4496; • E.J. Harrison & Sons: venturarental.com ejharrison.com • Ojai Valley Inn & Spa • Wilson: The official ball for The Ojai; • Ojai Valley Directory: • Ojai Valley Athletic Club wilson.com/en-us/tennis ojaivalleydirectory.com • Villanova Preparatory School • City of Ojai: ci.ojai.ca.us • Mission Linen Supply: • The Thacher School • Rock-It Cargo USA, LLC: missionlinen.com • Nordhoff High School rockitcargo.com • Harris Water Conditioning: • Matilija Junior High School • Chobani Greek Yogurt: harriswaterco.com • City of Ventura – Camino Real chobani.com • Tennis Warehouse Park • Plexipave Sport Surfacing: Official tenniswarehouse.com • The Ojai Valley School Surfacing for The Ojai: • Dunn-Edwards Paints: • Ventura College plexipave.com dunnedwards.com • Deer Lodge: • Adamson’s Automotive Repair & • Pierpont Racquet Club deerlodgeojai.com Towing: (805) 646-4494 • Pacifica High School • Capri Hotel: • Friend’s Ranches, Inc.: • Residence Inn Marriott hotelojai.com friendsranches.com • Buena High School • Hummingbird Inn: • Forbess Consulting Group: • Oxnard Tennis Center (Tennis hummingbirdinnojai.com fcgenviro.com McAdemy) • Valerie & Alan Greenberg • George and Colleen Conrad • Oxnard High School • Barry Golden • Ojai Donut Shoppe: (805) 646-1429 • Solinco: Official stringer for The Ojai • Ojai Hospitality Group Inc.: at Libbey Park: solincosports.com ojainow.com • Tom Rohrbacher Stringer at Ojai • Ojai Pixie Tangerine Growers Assoc. Tournament Sanctioning Valley Inn: (805) 640-2109 ojaipixies.com • Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: • Ojai Valley Lions Club: Organizations ojairesort.com ojaivalleylions club.com • Pac-12 Conference: pac-12.com • Ojai Valley Athletic Club: • The Ranch House Restaurant: • CIF – Southern Section: cifss.org ovac.caclubs.com theranchhouse.com • USTA / Southern California • Life Line Medical Transport: • Suzanne’s Cuisine: Section: SCTA.usta.com lifelineems.net suzannescuisine.com Resurfacing Sponsors The following Association, United States Brandt, Paul Schuster Beluris, Debra Jordan, organizations and Tennis Association, Ojai Forehand $250+ Joann Cunningham, Allen individuals donated to the Valley Tennis Club, Bryan Ed & Val Wehan, Tony and Levesque, Caroline and improvement of tennis Brothers Foundation, Anne Thacher, Ed and Terry Steve Doll courts at Buena High Hammer-Hewson Lynch, Harry and Anne School and Camino Real Associates, Limoneira, Oppenheimer, Richard, Park in Ventura to Ventura Downtown Lions Ann and Layne accommodate the increase Club Gallimore, David Loe, in competitors during the Overhead Smash $1,000+ Wayne and Bo Bruce CCCAA state E.J. Harrison & Sons, Backhand $100+ championships for the Pierpont Racquet Club, Jenise Wagar, Greg community colleges: Kaiser Permanente and Lori Frank, Volley $500+ Kent Bodin, Gary ACE $2,500+ Play It Again Sports, John Reeder, Stephan Ventura Lodging
About the cover Can you image a singles matchup and its future. This year, Brymer leads a (Pages 12-15) and women’s previews between 1913 Thacher High student powerhouse UCLA squad that looks to (Pages 17-19). Amos Wilder (at left) and three-time Ojai defend the Pac-12 title they won last year Once again this year, Heather Farley Boys’ CIF champion Gage Brymer (at over crosstown rival USC. and her Nordhoff High School advance right)? The Pac-12 coverage begins on Page 8 media and graphics arts class designed The Ojai has always celebrated its with a feature on former Stanford Coach the program cover, as well as the logos past, but just as important is its present, Dick Gould and continues with men’s used on all the merchandise.
6 The Ojai official 2014 event program Understated Sophistication & Privacy
Nestled in the Foothills of Ojai
The Ojai official 2014 event program 7 As good as Photo courtesy of Stanford University Photo courtesy of Stanford Stanford University tennis coach Dick Gould (right), talks with Nick Saviano, one of his players during his early years as a coach. Gould
hen Ojai Tennis Tournament the event. Mark Weil was the first to As a player for Stanford, Gould said W organizers were kicking around contact Stanford University coaching two of his biggest losses came at The names and ideas of whom they legend Dick Gould who happily agreed Ojai, “and on the same freaking court.” wanted to honor at this year’s to be Ojai’s honored guest for the As a junior, Gould led USC All- Thursday night Welcome Reception 114th annual event. American Ed Atkinson 5-3, 40-love in Barbecue, names of past Ojai greats A Ventura native, Gould has been the third and deciding set, only to like Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang associated with The Ojai for more than “choke it away.” A year later, Gould and Lindsay Davenport were brought 50 years, as a player, coach and later was a service point away from victory up. a broadcaster for Fox Sports Network. against UCLA No. 1 Norman Perry, But just like last year’s honoree, He first entered the tournament as a leading 5-2, 40-15 in the third. But Tracy Austin, the committee wanted student at Ventura Junior High in once again, Gould couldn’t close the someone who had a true affinity for 1950, played the next two years and door. the tournament – someone who for then represented Ventura High from “I played No. 6 my first year and years and years had a connection to 1953-55. No. 3 my senior year and I was behind
8 The Ojai official 2014 event program those guys. I never played year-round like the Bryan twins, Ryan Thacher “It’s the one tournament where you because I was working during the and Bradley Klahn who would have juniors, college and even out of summer teaching tennis and reminisce with their coach about their college. It’s just a wonderful mix and swimming for the Rec Department. glory days playing the juniors at Ojai. you don’t see that at any other Those guys played year-round. I was “That’s the beauty of Ojai,” Gould said. tournament.” just about the point where I had caught up to them.” The losses taught Gould a valuable lesson to never look too far ahead. “I started thinking one more point then this happens and that happens. It doesn’t work that way,” he said. Gould says he doesn’t regret holding his star player John McEnroe out of Ojai the one year he spent playing for Stanford in 1978. The summer before, McEnroe made the semifinals at Wimbledon. “He was here one year and he had a chance to play the Alan King Classic in Las Vegas,” Gould said. “I would have been crazy to not let him do it. Personally I was sorry he wasn’t there.” Gould said he would rather see the Pac-12 men’s conference play an individual format, instead of the
current team format. “It was always a Photo courtesy of Dick Gould great time of year to back off and it’s In 1985, Anson Thacher (from left) presented the Stanford team trophy to Erik really the last competition until the Rosenfeld, coach Dick Gould and Dan Goldie, a soon‐to‐be NCAA singles champ and NCAAs so it would give someone Wimbledon quarterfinalist. depending on their position a chance to knock off a player they might not normally get to play,” Gould explained. “It might help them get into the NCAA tournament with that win. I felt it was a great change of pace at a great time of year. “I love the individual tournament and I think it’s great for the players, but the team format is also very exciting, especially for the fans.” While he wasn’t able to bring McEnroe along, Gould treasured the days when players like Scott Humphries, Paul Goldstein and Ryan Wolters would arrive in Ojai for the first time. “We get in the car and we have a five-and-a-half-hour drive and then it gets dark and we’re in the middle of nowhere,” Gould said. “Then we get to the courts in the morning and there’s a lot of people around and everyone’s busy and getting their orange juice and they really start getting into it.” Photo courtesy of Stanford University Photo courtesy of Stanford And then there are the SoCal kids Gould (left) on the sidelines with a young John McEnroe.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 9 Ventura Rental is a proud sponsor of Th e Ojai Tennis Tournament
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10 The Ojai official 2014 event program The Ojai official 2014 event program 11 Pac-12 Men Photo courtesy of Pac-12
UCLA’s Clay Thompson led the opening match cheer last year. Former foes now on the same team
ne of the great things about The fall season. Starting the year ranked O Ojai is following the young No. 72 in the ITA rankings, Thompson Championships in Tulsa, Okla., an Southern California junior boys won the USTA/ITA National Indoor event where he went on to win the players through the ranks, and then Intercollegiate Championships in consolation singles title. Thompson through the CIF Interscholastic Flushing, N.Y. in early November followed that with a victory at his Division before they land on a Pac-12 winning five-straight matches to home tournament, claiming the crown roster. Often there are another few become just the second UCLA player at the Southern California years to watch these rising stars to win that title (joining back-to-back Intercollegiate Championships at continue on in the pro ranks, much champion Benjamin Kohlloeffel in UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center. like Mike and Bob Bryan and 2005 and 2006). The junior Giron has been right Bradley Klahn. With the victory, Thompson, from behind Thompson, playing No. 2 and Five years ago, Marcos Giron, of Venice, became the first UCLA men’s holding down a top-five national Thousand Oaks High School, tennis player to attain the nation’s No. ranking. The two are followed in the beat Clay Thompson, from 1 singles ranking since Kohlloeffel in lineup by three upstart freshmen from Crossroads School, to win the CIF 2006. Kohlloeffel achieved the No. 1 California, who have all played at The Division. This year, the two are looking ranking after winning the NCAA Ojai, two with huge success just last to lead UCLA to a repeat Singles Championship that year. year. performance as Pac-12 champions as Thompson is coming off a fall Bruin freshman Mackenzie Coach Billy Martin’s squad is season in which he posted an McDonald captured the 2013 Men’s once again loaded. impressive 18-1 overall record. His Thompson was the surprise of the only loss came in the first round of Continued on page 14 September’s ITA Men’s All-American
12 The Ojai official 2014 event program We Know Ojai. We’re Lifelong Residents.
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by Hanfmann, Roberto Quiroz, Berkowitz will rely on if the team is to From page 12 Connor Farren, Max De pull off an upset or two. Vroome, Michael Grant and Eric Johnson. Open singles title and teammate Here is a quick look at the other six California Gage Brymer won his third straight teams who will battle it out for the The Golden Bears got off to a quick CIF Boys’ Division title. Another conference team title. 6-0 start to begin the year, but then fell freshman, Joseph Di Giulio, is to No. 1 Virginia and to No. 10 about as good a No. 6 as you’ll find in Texas in Houston at the ITA Indoor anywhere in the country. Arizona National Championship. Ben USC, however, drew first blood in Head Coach Tad Berkowitz McLachlan returns as Cal’s top the first meeting between the two may have his No. 1 player in Fredrik player for Coach Peter Wright’s cross-town rivals this year as the No. Ask but there’s no question who the squad. Campbell Johnson, Filip 3 Trojans beat the No. 2 Bruins, 4-3, true leader of the Wildcats is. That Bergevi, Andre Goransson, in the semifinals of the National Team would be fourth-year senior captain Gregory Bayane and Mads Indoors in Houston in February. Kieren Thompson, who has played Engsted are the other top Cal The match was ultimately decided a strong No. 2 and 3 for Arizona this players. at the No. 2 spot, where 16th-ranked season. Yannick Hanfmann upset fifth- Born and raised in Brisbane, Oregon ranked Giron in three sets. Just one Australia, Thompson started his Ojai fans, watch out for the Ducks. week later, the Bruins returned the athletic career on the soccer field, only Led by senior Robin Cambier favor downing the Trojans, 5-2, in a until the day his father decided to build (Brussels, Belgium) Oregon got off to non-conference match. a tennis court in the backyard. a solid 11-1 start on the season This year, USC is led by Sumeet Shinde, Naoki Takeda, collecting shutouts in seven of its eight Fontana’s Ray Sarmiento at No. Mario Urquidi, Matt Dunn and wins this season. Cambier was named 1 singles. He’s followed in the lineup Carlos Bermudez are the others Pac-12 Player of the Week twice in Photo courtesy of Pac-12 The UCLA men’s team, which won the Pac‐12 team trophy last year, is expectd to have another strong showing in 2014.
14 The Ojai official 2014 event program Pac-12 Men four weeks to start the season and he passed Sven Swinnen for all-time singles wins for the program. Following Cambier in the lineup are Daan Maasland, Kevin Farin, Daniel Sardu, Jayson Amos and Brent Chin. Stanford John Morrissey missed two early-season matches for the Cardinals, but he had a good excuse representing Ireland in Davis Cup competition. In his absence, Anthony Tsodikov and Maciek Romanowicz have played well. Morrissey and Romanowicz already have a significant doubles title in Ventura County to their credit this year as the pair teamed up to win the Sherwood Cup in Thousand Oaks to open the spring season. The pair beat teammates Jamin Ball and Trey Strobel in an all-Cardinal semifinal. Utah The Utes started the season with a national ranking of No. 75, the same ranking Utah ended with last season, marking the first time since 2010 that Utah started the season nationally ranked. New to the roster this year are freshmen Patrick Mayer of Viernheim, Germany, and David Papis-Elon (Israel) as well as sophomore Matt Cowley, who returns to the squad after serving an LDS mission. Top players include Ben Tasevac, Alejandro Medinilla, Cedric Willems, Devin Lane and Patrick Mayer. Washington Max Manthou anchors a solid Huskies lineup coached by former USC player Matt Anger. Gal Hakak, Emmett Egger, Jeff Hawke (Palos Verdes), Viktor Farkas, Daffra Sanon and Michael Chamerski have all
Photo courtesy of Pac-12 contributed to getting Washington USC’s top player is Ray Sarmiento, seen here in last year’s action at The Ojai. inside the Top 50 nationally as a team in 2014.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 15 16 The Ojai official 2014 event program Pac-12 Women Rivalries are likely to continue
ac-12 women’s college tennis P continues this year at the 114th Ojai as 11 of the conference’s 12 programs will rally over four separate competitions – the Pac-12 Women’s Singles & Doubles Championships and the Pac-12 Singles & Doubles Invitationals. The singles divisions are laid out over two 32-player brackets while the doubles divisions feature 16 teams each. The Ojai’s championship figures to be mostly contested among the four California schools, further fueling the fun, yet intense UCLA-USC and Cal- Stanford rivalries. Below is a brief overview of each Pac-12 women’s entry in The Ojai. Arizona Seniors Akilah James and Lacey Smith, from Oceanside, are ranked Nos. 110 and 114, respectively, in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA’s) preseason NCAA Division I women’s singles rankings. Arizona State Sophomores Stephanie Vlad and Desirae Krawczyk, from Palm Desert, lead the Sun Devils’ Photo courtesy of Pac-12
Continued on page 18 Desirae Krawczyk will lead the ASU women’s contingent this year.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 17 Pac-12 Women at the 2013 Ojai. Kristie Ahn (No. 6), Caroline From page 17 Doyle (No. 34), Carol Zhao (No. Colorado 40) and Taylor Davidson (No. 41). The Buffaloes’ international flavor Ahn lost in the semifinals to eventual contingent as they are ranked Nos. 50 includes five foreign players – Winde champion Kyle McPhillips, of and 91, respectively, in the ITA Janssens (Belgium) and Carla UCLA, in last year’s women’s preseason singles rankings. Ojai fans Manzi Tenorio (Colombia), championship while sophomore Krista may recall that as a junior player in Julyette Steur (The Netherlands), Hardebeck lost in the final. Ellen 2011, Krawczyk entered the Women’s Dhany Quevedo (Venezuela) and Tsay (preseason ranking of No. 94) Open Doubles at The Ojai and won Nuria Ormeno Ruiz (Spain). reached last year’s Pac-12 Women’s the title. Invitational singles final at The Ojai, Oregon losing in three sets. California The Ducks are undergoing a The Golden Bears, ranked No. 8 in rebuilding effort with a young squad UCLA the country at the start of the led by juniors Nicole Long, The Bruins, ranked No. 5 in the collegiate season, sport four of the top Jasmine Minor, a transfer from nation entering the NCAA season, 31 singles players in the ITA Georgia Tech, and Sofia Hager, may be considered the slight favorite preseason national rankings, led by (Sweden). Lana Buttner, (France), to lift the most Ojai titles through this freshman Denise Starr (No. 15), may also figure into the Ducks’ plans year’s Pac-12 women’s events. Kyle Hungarian Zsofi Susanyi (No. 16), at The Ojai. McPhillips coasted to a 6-1, 6-0 Estonian Anett Schutting (No. 26), final’s victory to win last year’s Pac-12 a semifinalist in last year’s Pac-12 Women’s Singles Championship as a Women’s Championship singles Stanford freshman. Yet, junior Robin division at The Ojai, and freshman The Cardinals entered the collegiate Anderson entered the season as Maegan Manasse, of Redondo season as the No. 1 women’s team in NCAA Division I’s top-ranked women’s Beach. Cal placed a doubles team in the nation, boasting four players in the singles player by the ITA rankings, the Women’s Doubles Invitational final ITA preseason rankings’ top 41 – closely followed by junior Chanelle
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Van Nguyen (No. 9) and freshman with nothing to lose and plenty of Jennifer Brady (No. 24). Senior USC quality experience to gain, this Utes Courtney Dolehide will be back The Trojans, the nation’s preseason team is spearheaded by seniors with a new partner in aiming to return No. 6 team, will be up to challenge Lucia Kovarcikova, (Slovakia) and to the Pac-12 Women’s Doubles their crosstown and Northern Paige Miles. Championship final for the second California rivals in each Pac-12 event consecutive year, though Anderson at The Ojai. USC returns The Ojai’s and Brady were the ITA’s top-ranked Washington defending Pac-12 Women’s Singles doubles team at the beginning of the The Huskies captured last year’s Invitational champion, Kaitlyn season. Pac-12 Women’s Doubles Invitational Christian, who also won The Ojai’s and return the championship team of 2013 Pac-12 Women’s Doubles Championship with Sabrina Natali Coronel, (Argentina), and Santamaria, who was ranked No. Grace Sari Ysidora, (Indonesia). 13 in the ITA’s individual preseason The program carries three Southern rankings. USC is backed by quality Californians, including Ojai native depth in junior Giuliana Olmos (No. Riko Shimizu, San Clemente’s 60 in the ITA rankings), freshman Sophia Bott and Palos Verdes’ Gabriella DeSimone (No. 80) and Brianna Kemp. senior Brynn Boren (No. 96). The ITA rated Boren and Zoe Katz as Washington State NCAA Division I’s No. 3 doubles duo, The Cougars feature the and Olmos and Zoe Scandalis No. conference’s most international roster 7, entering the year. – only one American. Their top Photo by Michael McFadden returners are juniors Elizaveta USC’s Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Luzina, (Russia) and Charlotte Santamaria The Ojai’s 2013 Pac-12 Utah Women’s Doubles Championship Another team coming into The Ojai Koning, (The Netherlands).
The Ojai official 2014 event program 19 Open Division
Gage Brymer Taylor Frit z Photo by Michael McFadden University High’s Gage Brymer (left) topped Taylor Fritz in the Boys’ CIF Division in 2013, but Fritz is expected to have a strong showing this year in the Men’s Open Division Men’s Open honors could be on the Fritz emember the name Taylor he later coached one of the best junior prodigy ever since he began R Fritz. There is no telling how college men’s team in state history in competing in national tournaments at deep in the draw the 16-year-old College of the Desert. In 1996, 10. sophomore will get this week in the the Coachella Valley community “Yeah, 1996 was a pretty great year Men’s Open singles division at The college had both finalists in the men’s for our family at Ojai,” said Guy. “I just Ojai. If family pedigree has anything singles, as well as four others in the love Ojai. It’s always been one of my do with it though, the name will be one doubles final at Ojai. favorite tournaments.” Ojai fans could be seeing for years to That same year, Taylor’s mother, Last year, the family trekked to Ojai come. Kathy May Fritz, won the Women’s to watch Taylor get all the way to the The Fritz family, from Rancho Santa Open division at Ojai. The former final in the Boys’ Interscholastic Fe, already has a rich history and Wimbledon quarterfinalist got to as Division where he lost to three-time connection to The Ojai. Father, Guy, high as No. 8 in the world during her champion Gage Brymer. made the Independent College pro career. A year later in 1997, Taylor Taylor began playing professional Doubles final way back in 1972, and was born and has been deemed a ITF events in Oklahoma, Texas,
20 The Ojai official 2014 event program Open Division
Florida and Costa Rica to start the year and has already earned his first ATP points. Because of all the travel, he was forced to drop out of traditional high school, and now attends Laurel Springs Online School, which just happens to be based in Ojai. Guy said Taylor was expected to play several junior ITF events this spring. “The goal is to do well in those events and qualify for the juniors at the French Open and Wimbledon,” said Guy, adding that Taylor currently stands at No. 70 with his ITF junior ranking. But because he is no longer playing for his high school, he is only eligible for the Men’s Open event this year. “The Ojai offers us good players and that’s what we’re looking for.” Guy relayed a funny story from his big year at Ojai in 1972 where he was teamed with Aussie Andrew Cae playing for the University of San Diego. “We made the finals in doubles and he sat around and drank all that free orange juice and got sick,” Fritz said. “True story. We ended up losing to Cripe and Jablonski from
UC Irvine.” Photo by Michael McFadden If a teenager like Fritz happens to win the Open division, it would be the Mackenzie McDonald, (left) now a freshman at UCLA, defeated Lester Cook last year. second straight year as 18-year-old Mackenzie McDonald beat Lester Cook in last year’s final. Both Brymer and McDonald are now freshman at UCLA. Ojai fans who saw McDonald play “We made the finals in doubles and he for the first time in April, saw him again on a much bigger stage during the summer as he became the first sat around and drank all that free orange unranked teenager to qualify for an ATP Masters event, beating former juice and got sick,” Fritz said. “True story. Ojai Pac-12 champion Steve Johnson, no less, to earn a berth into the main draw at the Western & We ended up losing to Cripe and Southern Open in Cincinnati. The win followed an equally impressive straight-sets victory over Jablonski from UC Irvine.” 77th-ranked Nicolas Mahut the day before.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 21 OUR S T NA TOURN OUR I M IS AM T N N E N E S A N N N N I M E T T E T T N E TTHEHE TTHEHE N N E T THEO OJAIJAI THEO OJAIJAI T TTHEHE S I N 9 6 S I 6 C E 1 8 N C E 1 8 9 THEO OJAIJAI
S I 6 N C E 1 8 9 Thank You Mike Taggart! Once again this year, The Ojai Men’s and Women’s Open division is being generously supported by the $20,000 prize-money donation from Mike Taggart. Each year, the divisions get stronger and stronger and the 2014 edition will be no different. The Ojai salutes Mike Taggart for his years of work and generous support of The Ojai Tennis Tournament
“Way back when, before the Pac-12 became a big thing at the tournament, people came to Ojai to watch the Open, people came to watch the famous players that you’ll see along the Wall of Fame along Court 1. They play a brand of tennis that is very exciting. I wanted to rescue the
TOURN IS AM Open because it was drying up.” N E N N E T T TTHEHE ---Mike Taggart THEO OJAIJAI
S I 6 N C E 1 8 9 Mike Taggart
22 The Ojai official 2014 event program We Support the Ojai Tennis Tournament
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 23 Community College State Championships Strong field expected in college matches ack by popular demand, and B because of its rousing success at its new host site in 2013, the men’s and women’s California Community College Athletic Association Championships (CCCAA) return to The Ojai for the second consecutive year. This week’s 114th Ojai tournament will host the men’s and women’s CCCAA Dual Team championships Wednesday, April 23, followed by the CCCAA men’s and women’s individual singles and doubles championships Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27. The CCCAA Championships represent a true State championship as all CCCAA tournaments at The Ojai are open to qualification from all 84 community/junior colleges in California that field men’s and women’s tennis programs. CCCAA individual tournament formats will be the same as last year’s Ojai, as the men’s and women’s singles and doubles events will be
played out over a bracket with 128 Photo courtesy of CCCAA entries. Tournament seeds are chosen by the coaches leading into the Ojai. Fullerton Community College earned its first women’s CCCAA team championship last Fresno City’s men’s team year at The Ojai. completed a perfect 19-0 season, extended its win streak to 40, and won match, including Jasmine Catolico, Estefania Flores and Rianne Llagan; its second consecutive CCCAA team Cailin Mitchell and No. 1 player Sarah Orange Coast College’s Hali title last year by downing Southern Anderson. Dickson and Nikki Thornburg; California regional champion Anderson won the CCCAA Ventura College’s Zionne Lee and Ventura College, 5-1. Individual doubles crown last year but Yannick Garcia; and Riverside City Fresno City returns three players fell in the CCCAA Individual singles College’s Sheila James and Brianna featured in that championship match – final. She has her sights set on Bowers. Scott Gray, Adrian Varenne and Alec bringing home both individual Orange Coast College’s Bessinger. This trio figures to be in the tournament honors this year. women are among the best teams the mix to contend in the CCCAA Santa Monica College’s Kaori state has to offer in 2014, and its top Individual singles or doubles Tsuda reached the CCCAA Individual tandems of Sydney Farzadkish and tournaments as well. doubles final at last year’s Ojai and is Nadine Baquiran and Dickson and Battle-hardened upstart Fullerton back in town. She was a 2013 ITA All- Thornburg come to mind when College defeated the top-seeded American and was ranked by the ITA scanning the contenders for the and third-seeded teams to advance as the No. 2 player among Southern CCCAA Individual doubles title at The out of the Southern California bracket California community colleges entering Ojai. Also in that mix are Riverside’s as a No. 4 seed, then took down the season, and she could team with Bowers and Acacia Dettman, Northern California Regional Mary Ashmore in an attempt at a Cypress College’s Melissa Champion Sierra College, 5-4, last return trip to the CCCAA doubles final Gahugu and Devan Johnson, El year to win its first women’s CCCAA at The Ojai. Camino College’s Shenae team championship. Sierra College Other women ranked in the ITA’s Shampine and Donya Assef, won the Northern California region preseason top 10 in Southern Cerritos’ Judan and Flores, and finished as state runner-up from California who could be a force in the Ventura’s Garcia and Lee, and 2011-13. CCCAA Individual singles Fullerton returns three of its top championship are Cerritos Continued on page 46 four singles players from that title College’s Samantha Judan,
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 25 26 The Ojai official 2014 event program Code Private Courts 013 1013 Shokat 014 1014 Country Club Dr 052 52 Oak Dr. 057 12057 Sulphur Mountain Rd 065 10065 Ojai-Santa Paula Rd 067 12067 MacDonald Dr Venue Code Address 071 1071 Rancho Rd. Libbey Park LP Ojai Avenue 250 12250 Linda Flora Libbey Park South LPS Ojai Avenue 350 3500 Maricopa Hwy. Matilija JR High MJH 703 El Paseo 500 500 W. Country Dr. Nordhoff High School N 1401 Maricopa Hwy 505 505 Foothill Rd. Ojai Valley Athletic Club OAC 409 Fox St 574 574 Quail Oaks Rd Ojai Valley School-upper campus OSU 10820 Reeves Rd 585 8585 Highway 150, Besant Hill School Ojai Valley School-lower campus OVS 723 El Paseo Rd 670 670 Del Norte Thacher School T 5025 Thacher Rd 707 707 Cuyama Villanova School V 12096 Ventura Ave 883 10883 Oak Knoll
The Ojai official 2014 event program 27 www.10sBalls.com • www.10sBalls.com “Gorgeous” Gussy Moran 1923 – 2013
It was with great sadness that one of The Ojai’s great champions passed www.10sBalls.com • www.10sBalls.com away just over a year ago. “Gorgeous” Gussy Moran always loved The Ojai Tennis Tournament and recalled on many occasions when she first played at Libbey Park as a young 13-year-old for Lincoln Junior High in Santa Monica. She wrote in her last years about the pride she felt bringing home an Ojai banner, that was displayed at her school and of being recognized at a special assembly. In 1949, just two years after winning Ojai, Moran, then 25, hit the world stage and made international headlines. British dress designer and Wimbledon host Ted Tinling designed a skirt that would go above the knees with lace panties. There was controversy, but a star was born and Gussy would later turn pro and travel the world playing exhibitions with Pancho Segura, Pauline Betz and Jack Kramer. As one poignant writer noted in her obituary: “Her Wimbledon appearance turned her, overnight, into a celebrity. She was dated by millionaires, played tennis with Charlie Chaplin, had a ship, a racehorse and a sauce named after her, and even appeared as herself alongside Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in their 1952 tennis comedy Pat And Mike.” The staff at www.10sBalls.com honors Gussy Moran and remembers what a great Ojai and all-around champion she was.
Gussy Moran’s Ojai Finals Record Girls’ 14s Singles 1938-Louise Brough (Beverly Hills HS) def. Gussy Moran (Santa Monica HS) Girls’ 14s Doubles 1937-Gussy Moran-Peggy Miller (Lincoln Jr. HS) def. Robin Briscoe-Pearl Harland (Santa Monica HS) Women’s Open Singles 1947-Louise Brough def. Gussy Moran Mixed Doubles 1947-Gussy Moran-Tom Chambers def. Eleanor Cushingham-Henry Culley www.10sBalls.com • www.10sBalls.com www.10sBalls.com
www.10sBalls.com • www.10sBalls.com
28 The Ojai official 2014 event program 10sBalls.com A tennis website with great tennis news, articles and awesome tennis pictures. FOLLOW US SOCIALLY Youtube: youtube.com/the10sBalls Facebook: facebook.com/10sBallsFB Instagram: 10sBalls_com Twitter: twitter.com/10sBalls_com Boys’ CIF Photo by Michael McFadden Drew Dawson (left), one half of the winning University High School team in 2013, will transition to singles play.
Road to victory likely goes through University High
age Brymer has relinquished tournament could see the title remain Dawson, already committed to G his dominant, three-year hold on within the University High program, Notre Dame, also won the 2011 CIF the CIF Boys’ singles crown at which still looks to provide the Individual doubles crown as a The Ojai. Having graduated from the strongest overall representation in this freshman and has appeared in the CIF tennis courts at Irvine University High week’s CIF Boys divisions. Individual final each of the previous School onto UCLA, Brymer last year University senior Drew Dawson three years. became the third player to win The comprised one-half of The Ojai’s 2013 The CIF Boys’ singles and doubles Ojai’s CIF Boys’ singles division three CIF Boys’ doubles championship competitions, each sporting a bracket consecutive years; the first since the team, but could make the transition of 64 entries, will take place at the iconic Bobby Riggs accomplished over to the singles bracket this year as 114th Ojai. the feat in 1934-36. he is ranked among the USTA’s top-10 Austin Rapp, of Rancho Mirage, While there’s now room at the top of Boys’ 18s players in Southern reached the Boys’ 16s final last year the Ojai’s premier high school division California and in the top 150 at The Ojai and hopes to go one step for someone else, the prep nationally. further as he makes the jump to the
30 The Ojai official 2014 event program Boys’ CIF
CIF Boys’ division this year. Rapp, a high school tennis just down the road and will be in the mix to go one better senior at Palm Desert High School from The Ojai are a pair of Viewpoint and knock ominous Irvine University who will join UCLA in 2014-15, is a teammates – senior Darius off the championship pedestal. 2012 CIF Individual doubles champion MacKenzie, who fell to 2013 finalist Corona del Mar, Orange County’s and 2013 CIF Individual singles Taylor Fritz in the final 16 at The No. 2 tennis powerhouse behind semifinalist who is ranked in the top Ojai, and junior Julian Gordy, who University High, is expected to have 10 of Boys’ 18s players in Southern reached The Ojai’s Boys’ 16s division its Ojai representation led by seniors California and in the top 80 nationally. singles semifinals last year. Carson Williams and Josh Other singles contenders which On the doubles side of The Ojai’s Kliger, who extended Carter and could etch their name in Ojai CIF CIF Boys’ equation, University High Gealer to three sets before dropping history include Palos Verdes High looks a strong bet to keep that title in the match in last year’s quarterfinals. senior Jake Douglas, who reached house through the doubles team of After last year’s defeat, Williams and The Ojai’s quarterfinals a year ago senior Eric Tseng and junior Arash Kliger set an immediate goal of and is nationally-ranked in the USTA’s Hafezi, who beat Dawson and his winning the doubles title at The Ojai in top 90 of Boys’ 18s players, and Santa partner in last year’s CIF Individual 2014. Ana resident and Foothill High senior doubles final. Time will tell very soon which elite Stefan Doehler, who is ranked San Marino’s dynamic duo of senior high school players will be the cream alongside Douglas among Southern Robert Carter and junior Danny of The Ojai’s CIF crop and enjoy the California’s top-10 Boys’ 18s players. Gealer lost a tight, three-set match in sweetest taste of that famous Ojai A couple of favorites who play their last year’s Ojai CIF Boys’ doubles final orange juice.
Austin Rapp, of Rancho Mirage, reached the Boys’ 16 final last year at The Ojai and hopes to go one step further as he makes the jump to the CIF Boys’ division this year. Photo by Michael McFadden
Austin Rapp (right) will move into the Boys’ CIF division this year.
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 33 Tennis academy students Weil of fortune: gaining an upper hand In its 17-year history, Weil Tennis we have an exceptionally strong group Academy students have won dozens of (of competitors)," said Weil. "They may titles at the Ojai Tennis Tournament. surprise some people." "We've had at least one finalist every Weil estimates that "over 80 percent single year," said founder Mark Weil. of our students go on to play for D1 Weil students like Patrik Fabian, (Division I) college tennis teams." Of Ciro Riccardi and Aidan Jiang course, many of them end up coming have dominated the Boys’ 14s singles, back to compete in The Ojai with their especially, over the last few years; Pac-12 college teams. This year, look Jiang and Riccardi have also won the for Weil alumni Dennis Mkrtchian, Boys’ 16s singles. Riccardi — who just playing for the heavily-favored UCLA committed to Dartmouth University — men's team, as well as Alberto will return this year to compete in the Reyes for the Oregon Ducks men's Men’s Open Singles. team and Riko Shimizu for the Weil's girls are no different. Frequent Washington Huskies women's team, Ojai Tournament goers may remember among others. "That's been such a big Gail Brodsky, who won four titles in satisfaction," said Weil, "to watch our as many years — the Girls’ 14s, 16s, kids play for Berkeley, UCLA, USC, 18s and the Women's Open. Stanford, Arizona, Oregon — I think Dominique Schaefer, 15, will return we've put kids in almost every Pac-12 this year to play in the Girls’ 18s program." singles; an injury kept her from the And it's not uncommon for Weil 2013 tournament, but the last time we alumni to turn pro; Grigor Dimitrov saw her at The Ojai, in 2012, it was sits at No. 16 in the ATP rankings and with the Girls' 14 singles trophy in her Anna Tatishvili has ranked as high hands. Fellow Weil student Viktoria as No. 50 in the WTA. Academy Tennis Photo courtesy of Weil Bardarova is also expected to place "It's great to see them doing so well," Ojai resident and Weil student Jack well in the Girls’ 18s singles. "This year Weil said. La Plante played in the Ojai’s Mens’ Open. PLUMBING AIR CONDITIONING QUICK & HEATING SERVICE EMERGENCY SERVICE
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34 The Ojai official 2014 event program The Ojai official 2014 event program 35 Tournament isn’t kidding when it comes to helping youths Ojai Valley News archive photo News archive Ojai Valley Children are the focus of charitable efforts of The Ojai.
ach year, a major objective of The E Ojai tennis tournament, organized by the Ojai Valley Tennis Club from all Ojai Valley's elementary expertise for this special event. (OVTC), is to raise funds to conduct schools and is greatly appreciated by The Parent/Child Holiday Challenge and support various programs that the teachers, principals, parents and, gets a large contingent of older and introduce tennis to elementary school most importantly, the students. younger players on the courts over the students and support the development Here’s what Cheryl Leslie, a Sunset Christmas holidays. This event is now of young tennis players in the Ojai Elementary School teacher, had to say in its fourth year and has proven to be Valley. This goal is accomplished about the program. “I love the fact that a very well-liked and popular activity through the OVTC’s Youth Tennis there are enough “instructors” that brings families together for a Committee, which solicits additional volunteering so the kids can be in healthy, fun activity. funding and manages the programs. small enough groups that the students "I'm so very grateful to live in a town The all-volunteer OVTC Youth are engaged with very little down that has such a wonderful organization Tennis Committee works with the Ojai time.” as the OVTC,” said Rick Thompson, Unified School District, the city of Ojai The USTA has also recognized the the ORD Tennis Pro, who participated Recreation Department and several success of the program with a grant twice with his daughter, Julienne. He local teaching pros to introduce, that will support the program for expressed his appreciation for the develop, and popularize tennis for another year. The OVTC and the Ojai Challenge sponsors and how the children of all ages. Recreation Department are the main tournament raises money to help the The most well-known of the Ojai funding organizations, and the youth tennis programs throughout the Valley Youth Tennis programs is the program is run by volunteers under year, while at the same time giving our 10 and Under instruction program, the leadership of Philippe Gache. community's kids great match formerly known as QuickStart. The This year, as with the last three experience. “This is a great program has been developed by the years, there will be a QuickStart tournament they put on." USTA, specifically to speed up the tournament during The Ojai on In addition, the OVTC provides learning curve for younger children Thursday afternoon before the funding to the Ojai Recreation with the use of smaller, lighter barbecue. Department to support the Youth racquets, foam balls and smaller Other Youth Tennis activities are the Tennis programs organized by courts. The program results in quicker High Performance Clinic where select Thompson. Through these programs progress and more fun because the young players are invited to participate Thompson teaches tennis at the kids can start rallying much sooner. in a day of intense tennis instruction Now in its fifth year the program has and match strategy. All Ojai tennis Continued on page 38 worked with more than 1,000 students professionals donate their time and
36 The Ojai official 2014 event program The Ojai official 2014 event program 37 From page 36 beginner and advanced levels and conducts a summer program and an after-school tennis league for youngsters, who taste competition for the first time and learn the values of teamwork and good sportsmanship. During The Ojai, awards are presented to worthy youngsters to participate in a number of tennis clinics, summer camps, and individual professional tennis instruction for photo News archive Ojai Valley further specialized training, Local youth tennis programs get a big boost from tournament proceeds. development and competition. The awards are donated by Ojai tennis coaches and are presented at the college level. If you would like to help develop annual barbecue that will take place These programs for our youth are character, combat juvenile Thursday during tournament. made possible by the generous delinquency and enrich the lives of our The winners are selected by the contributions of sponsors such as youth, please make a tax-deductible Youth Tennis Committee based on a Mike Taggart, a local tennis fan, The contribution to support the Youth variety of factors such as Ojai tournament, the USTA, the Ojai Tennis Program. Please send your sportsmanship, motivation, talent, Recreation Department, tennis check payable to OVTC Youth Tennis potential to advance in competition coaches and other organizations and and send it to: Ojai Valley Tennis Club, and financial need. Several of the many dedicated volunteers. We are P.O. Box 482, Ojai, CA, 93023. recipients of these awards in the past very grateful for the generous For more information contact Jakob will be playing in The Ojai this year donations and support, without which Vos, Chair, Youth Tennis Programs, at and have gone on to compete at the these programs would not be possible. [email protected]. Ojai Valley News archive photo News archive Ojai Valley Ojai’s Julianna Adelman takes part in a youth tennis event.
38 The Ojai official 2014 event program The Ojai official 2014 event program 39 Former player turns presenter 65 years later
ooking back with fondness – and L some amazement – Marianne Hertel Mize smiles as she recalls the players and the atmosphere that she experienced at The Ojai 65 years ago. She remembers entering the tournament from Ventura High School in 1949 when she was 16. She said, “All of us knew about The Ojai, of course. I heard about it while I was still in junior high. It was one of the tournaments we all wanted to play in.” And play she did. Mize fought her way to the Girls’ 18-and-Under finals, where she played Lee Van Keuren of Westlake. She beat Van Keuren 6-2, 7-5, recalling, “It was a real upset for me to beat her because I was the underdog. It turned out to be a real good win.” The next year, 1950, Mize returned to The Ojai to play again in the Girls’ 18-and-Under division. And, once again, she played her way to the finals where she beat Diana West, of Alhambra, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1, claiming her second Ojai title.
But Mize was not finished with The Photo courtesy of Marianne Hertel Mize Ojai. She attended Cal her freshman Marianne Hertel Mize following her appearance in The Ojai in 1950. year and then transferred to the University of Arizona. In 1954, Mize returned to Ojai representing Arizona one started by her father in Ventura. history of this year’s winner in The in the Women’s Intercollegiate She loved playing and made many Ojai? Will she attend The Ojai on the Doubles Championship with partner lifetime friends throughout the state. 65th anniversary of her first trophy, as Ann Armfield. Mize and Armfield As for her experience at The Ojai, Mize is doing? We sincerely hope so, routed Marjorie and Cynthia Gibbens, she was four times a player and four for it is a thrill to see Mize at Ojai once of Stanford, 6-0, 6-0 to win the cup. times a champion – beginning 65 again. The next year, Mize and Armfield years ago! Mize thinks back on The captured their second college doubles Ojai with fond memories of playing trophy by beating the Comstock twins, great matches at Libbey Park, drinking Bette and Pegge, of Ventura College, the freshly squeezed orange juice, 9-11, 6-1, 6-0. and having tea and cookies in the Mize started playing tennis at 12 afternoon. In her college years, she and was coached by Harold Chaffee, stayed at a private home, recalling the a longtime Ventura tennis instructor. kindness and the hospitality. She felt After her first lesson, she played in a like she was a local, coming from tournament in Santa Paula, winning a Ventura, but Ojai was something racquet for her play. She laughs, “I special, something gracious, didn’t have much in the way of strokes something grand. or strategy, but I was fast. I was She is looking forward to returning to The Ojai this year to present the almost always faster than the girls I Photo by Doug Thompson played.” She played in tournaments in winner’s trophy for the Girls’ 18-and- Mize will present the trophy to the Girls’ Monterey, Burlingame, San Diego, and Under division. What will be the 18s singles winner.
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 41 In Memoriam Ruby Keith Morrison volunteer, OVTC director
uby Keith Morrison, friend of downtown to Libbey Park. R The Ojai and volunteer There’s oak trees and lots of since 1939, died Dec. 26, grass and hospitality. It’s such a 2013, one month shy of 92. personal thing and people Ruby and her husband Jack, around here take great pride. I who predeceased her in 2010, don’t think I’ve ever heard led the Ojai Valley Tennis Club anyone tell me they won’t be board of directors for 15 years, back.” serving as secretary and Ruby singlehandedly president alternately – an maintained the beauty and the unprecedented role of decorum of the Tea Tent for leadership. They loved and decades. And because of the respected the tournament, Tea Tent, Ruby said that The Ojai always willing to help with the was “the Wimbledon of the smallest detail or greatest of West,” something quoted in tasks. numerous publications “It’s what you do in April,” throughout the country. Ruby would say. “It’s something Please join us in a celebration we look forward to every year, of Ruby and her dedication to the whole town does. It’s so The Ojai Saturday, April 26, at 2 Photo courtesy of the Morrison family unique, when you come p.m. – in the Tea Tent, of course! Ruby and Jack Morrison
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 43 Ojai Valley News archive photo News archive Ojai Valley Rose Boggs has been involved with The Ojai since she was 5. Tennis is her racquet
The following article was written by Rose Tournament was about the most orange juice is served from the Tea Boggs, a longtime resident of the Ojai exciting event happening each year. Tent. Valley who has been involved with the Ojai has grown, and in the process, a The entrance gate to the tournament for 80 years. She has taught lot of things that were a part of The tournament was at the front of the tennis for the Ojai Recreation Department Ojai have disappeared. park, just west of the bank parking lot. and also served a stint as the Nordhoff The clubhouse was a charming, There was a small, dark green, tennis coach. This article appeared in the dark green, wooden building located wooden building that stood there year- April 18, 1990, issue of the Ojai Valley near court three and the bowl. It had a round. I never had to pay to enter. News. viewing porch, bathrooms, and Since my father was the park showers, and a storage room. At times caretaker, I just smiled at the ticket By Rose Boggs there was a pro shop. Only the taker and said I had to go in to see my players in the tournament were dad. It worked until the years when I et me take you back to the 33rd allowed to use the showers and the was a player in the tournament. L Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. bathrooms. The rest of the year, they As I mentioned before, the Imagine a five-year-old girl were locked up. clubhouse bathrooms were for the sitting on wooden planks that had The building was there when I was players. The spectators used the small been carefully placed over the dirt and growing up, but about the time the public bathrooms behind the post around the tennis courts. Through big, bowl was built the clubhouse office. These bathrooms disappeared brown eyes she sat for hours at a time disappeared. From the porch of the when the post office was enlarged. watching the champions and future clubhouse you could look across The Thursday night street dance champions. courts three and four and see the has also disappeared from the scene. That little girl was me. I was having hexagon-shaped orange juice stand, What a thrill it was to dance with my first tennis lesson. I learned to play another dark green and very small players such as Ted Schroeder on the while watching the tennis players wooden building. main street in front of the Lion’s Head every year. Players and spectators were served Fountain! Ojai was a quiet little town in those orange juice in small paper cups from Energetic teenagers sat all over the days. The Ojai Valley Tennis 10 a.m. until noon each day. Now the wall and arches that were opposite the
44 The Ojai official 2014 event program Arcade. Along with the street dance, the walls and arches and beautiful wisteria have disappeared. In recent years the Friday night dance at Nordhoff has gone the way of the Thursday night street dance. Nordhoff students and teachers decorated the gym. Live bands were brought in. Parents and faculty were chaperones. Mr. Pierpont’s special punch was served. What a thrill it was when Shirley Temple attended the dance in 1942! She danced with Photo courtesy of Rose Boggs Continued on page 46 The orange juice booth that stood for many years in Libbey Park.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 45 School with green and gold. The silver urns, silver sugar tongs and china cups and saucers are still used. Complimentary tea and cookies are served from 3 to 5 p.m. daily for players and spectators. The only Rose Boggs (left) poses ingredients missing from the Tea Tent are the Girl Scouts washing the cups with tennis star Tracy and the Girl Scout cookies. At one time there were lights strung Austin at last year’s Ojai down the middle of courts one and three. They were inadequate as they Tennis Tournament. were far too dim and subject to being shattered by mishit balls and vandalism. I can’t say that they are missed. The oak trees that shaded those dark green wood buildings are fewer in number. The trees in the park and Photo by Holly Roberts the perfume of the orange blossoms frame that stood in the park to the permeating the air are what makes From page 45 west of court one. We used to climb The Ojai so special. and swing from the bars. Over this Ojai is not the quiet little town it several Nordhoff students. Since she frame the tan canvas tea tent was once was. You can no longer stand on was not a player in the tournament placed each April. The frame has Main Street and hear the “whack” of she had to have a ticket to get in. She disappeared, but a lovely green tent the tennis balls. Nor can you hear the came to The Ojai that year to cheer appears each year. public address system … “Tracy for her classmates at Westlake School Ojai Valley Garden Club members Austin, please report to the who were in the finals. Boys had to arrange the floral centerpieces for the tournament desk.” wear a coat and tie to attend the Tea Table. The floral scheme is based The Ojai is still the most exciting dance. Today’s teenagers would rather on the colors of the high schools in event happening in Ojai each year. I wear Big Dog shorts and Nikes. Ojai. Thursday’s flowers are blue and hope it never disappears. I played in The Tea Tent Tradition is in no gold in honor of Nordhoff High; Friday, The Ojai. Our children played in The danger of disappearing and has it’s red and white for Ojai Valley Ojai. Our grandchildren will play in undergone very little change. Missing School; Saturday, blue and white for The Ojai. is the permanent rectangular iron Villanova and Sunday honors Thacher It’s tradition. Community College State Championships David Stanko and Mt. San Jacinto College’s Vitinho From page 24 Galvao. Contending doubles teams who are worth watching during Santa Monica’s Carmel Peterson and Jessica the CCCAA Individual doubles tournament at The Ojai this Goldbeck. week are Cerritos’ Eshmade and Kagoma, Ventura’s Ventura College’s men’s team annually turns out Mendes and Pittman, Mt. San Jacinto’s Galvao and championship-caliber players and this year is no different. Bruno Campos, and Riverside’s Garcia and Stanko. Leading the Pirates’ charge this year is 2013 ITA All- American Victor Mendes, who reached the CCCAA Individual singles final as a No. 7 seed at The Ojai last year and hopes to go one step better this week. Mendes and Zach Pittman were rated Nos. 2 and 7, respectively in the ITA’s preseason Southern California community college rankings and figure to be factors at The Ojai. Other top-ranked singles players in the ITA’s Southern California preseason poll who could be gunning for the CCCAA Individual singles championship include 2013 ITA All-American Nathan Eshmade and Amadi Kagoma from Cerritos College, James Tenbroech and Jordan Lomas from San Diego Mesa College, 2013 ITA All-American Richard Catabona from LA Pierce College, Riverside College’s Danny Garcia (a 2013 ITA All-American) and
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The Ojai official 2014 event program 49 Photo by Rick Limpert Danielle Lao recently authored a book in which she wrote about her college tennis experiences. The Lao down on playing in The Ojai Danielle Lao is a former USC Trojan absorbed its full effect. Unfortunately around, watch matches, and take in and a two-time NCAA All American for me, I had not played any of the the atmosphere as a spectator. who is currently playing on the Ojai events before my collegiate In hindsight though, this was a women’s professional circuit. This past career, so it took me a few years to blessing in disguise. Without having to winter, Lao documented the ups, gather a greater appreciation to what it worry about the typical routine that downs, and learning experiences of all really meant to me. goes into preparing for a match, I playing college tennis in her book, “The Invaluable Experience” which Entering my last year of college, I could sit back and actually observe all she co-authored with writer Rick was not sure whether I would be that goes into The Ojai. There are Limpert. “The Invaluable Experience” hanging up my rackets or not after the countless people that open their is available on Amazon.com as a season. Because of this uncertainty, I houses to the players competing in the Kindle Book. Lao wrote this piece knew there was a possibility that I tournament and a great number about her experiences playing The would be experiencing many lasts as involved in the planning and Ojai. a tennis player, so I did my best to preparation that makes the By Danielle Lao soak in everything I could as a senior. tournament run smoothly. eing a Southern California native, I have always heard from past Above all, what still amazes me B I always felt the pride in growing players I idolized how magic happens today is all of the people who continue up and competing in one of the at The Ojai. Many of them have their to return to the tournament, as players best tennis sections in the United greatest, and most memorable and as spectators. To say the least, States. Although I knew I was a part of moments at Libbey Park. there is something special at The Ojai something special, I did not grasp the I wish I could tell a miraculous story that keeps bringing people back to full appreciation for Southern about how I had won The Ojai in the help, compete or watch. California’s tennis culture until my final most dramatic fashion, but my I was really feeling the good vibes year of college. moment of elation happened a little and energy from the town of Ojai, and It was at The Ojai tournament, differently. Having lost in the earlier instead of rushing back home to Los where I suddenly realized and rounds, I had plenty of time to wander Angeles, I opted to stay until
50 The Ojai official 2014 event program championship Sunday. On Saturday whispers as the tournament directors was feeling to the realization of how night, I asked my coach West Nott if it and officials filed in to organize much history this tournament has. was possible to get a hit in the themselves. By 7:30, the whisper Legends like Pete Sampras, Billie following day. Because it was turned into a chatter as the volunteers Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy championship Sunday, all the big began to come in and situate Connors, and Michael Chang have matches had been moved to Libbey themselves and to squeeze fresh Ojai been in that draw at some point in Park, so if I wanted to squeeze a hit orange juice. their life. in, it would have to be very early. As 7:45 rolled around, the chatter There was something special about I was determined to practice, so I evolved into what sounded like the playing at a place you know many dragged West out at 6:30 a.m. to hit entire town being awake. As West and champions before you have on Court 1. (He was a great sport, by I sat on the benches watching the experienced great moments. Then and the way). Arriving at the courts at 6:15, busyness of the tournament, we talked there I finally understood what keeps Libbey looked so different empty. As about how awesome it was that we bringing people back to The Ojai. the sun got higher on this quiet and gradually heard the town of Ojai wake People return to honor how such beautiful morning, West and I ran up, on championship Sunday, while community enthusiasm and Southern around the whole court, exchanging playing on Court 1. California tradition can bring together heavy ground strokes. It was all of a sudden overwhelming so many individuals from different At around 7, I started to hear when I combined the warm energy I generations under one sport, tennis.
“To say the least, there is something special at The Ojai that keeps bringing people back to help, compete or watch.”
The cover of Danielle Lao’s book Photo by Rick Limpert
Danielle Lao recently wrote a book in which she talked about playing in The Ojai.
The Ojai official 2014 event program 51 52 The Ojai official 2014 event program