Bonanza wins fifth state tennis title

By Sean Ammerman

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 4:18 p.m.

Bonanza senior Andrew Whiting remembers the last time the Bengals won the boys tennis state title.

It was his freshman year in 2004 and he was a doubles player with little expectations.

This season's championship run, which was capped Oct. 25 with a 13-5 win against Coronado in Carson City, was another story.

"When you're a freshman and you're in the state tournament there's no pressure," he said. "This year it felt like everything was on our backs. That made it that much more rewarding."

Bonanza relied on their experienced group of upperclassmen to outplay Reno's Bishop Manogue High 16-2 in the semifinals, then had its way with a younger Coronado team in the championship match.

Seniors Tommy Lettero and Aashish Daulat went 2-1 in singles sets against Coronado, while freshman Brenden Aguilar went 3-0.

The victory was Bonanza's fifth state title in eight years.

Bonanza coach Erik Davis said his team got its biggest boost of confidence after defeating Palo Verde, the two-time defending state champions, in the Sunset Regional finals Oct. 17.

"These kids had to come together as a team," Davis said. "I know tennis is an individual sport, but we all worked together for this. That was the key. Each of these guys supported each other."

Bonanza further displayed its dominance in the boys doubles tournament, which Whiting and Daulat won for the second consecutive year. The pair defeated teammates Laurent Gontier and Sean Lettero 6-4, 6-3 in an all-Bonanza finals.

"It's tough playing your teammates in the finals because you have a hard time getting excited," Whiting said. "You want to win but you don't want to rub it in. Once we got on the court it was just good competition."

Freshman Alison Matlovic led Bonanza in the girls individual singles tournament, beating Green Valley High's Jessica Hsu 1-6, 7-6, 6-2 to take third place.

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].