DRAPER/SALT LAKE CITY/OGDEN — Juan Diego Catholic High School girls had 16 wins and no losses for the 2007 season to win the Region 8 Championship as well as the 2007 State 3A Championship Title when school began last fall. The schools are beginning their 2008 tennis season. The Saint Joseph Catholic High School girls’ tennis team won their Region 17 title in 2007, which was the first time in the history of the school, and the 2007 State 1A-2A State Championship Tennis Title. This was the first time since 1979, that the girls have won a state championship. "The Judge Memorial Catholic High School boys’ tennis team had not won a state title since 1981," said Hank Kennedy, Judge Memorial head tennis coach. "They won the 2008 State Championship Title May 17 at Liberty Park, where all the tennis tournaments are played. "At the state tournament, Juan Diego had three singles players, a semi-finalist, and a quarter finalist in the doubles, which gave us enough points to win the state title," said Arthur Myazaki, Juan Diego head tennis coach. "My number one player was senior Romina Nedakovic. "Over the four years she played, her accumulative record was 80 wins and one loss. She is now playing for Brigham Young University. "My number two player was Paige Miles as a junior last year. Miles is a senior this year and is the team captain. Last year Miles’ accumulative record for three years was 65 wins and no losses. Miles is being heavily recruited this year by Fresno State University, Santa Clara University, the University of Oregon, the University of San Francisco, all the local universities, and more colleges. She would like to go to a college in California." Myazaki said the number three singles player is Masha Chadovich, who was a state champion her sophomore year. She is expected to be the state title-holder at number two singles this year. Justine Davis is playing number three singles this year, and played number two doubles. She was the quarter finalist at doubles last year. "Last year we had number one doubles Shoko Kim and Rachel Claudius, who were semi finalists in the number one doubles match. Claudius is again playing number one doubles for Juan Diego," said Myazaki. "Blake Holding played number two doubles with Davis last year. She is a sophomore this year and is playing number one doubles with Claudius. At number two doubles this year, there are two junior varsity girls Dechie Sumampong and Ellen Martin, who played junior varsity last year, and are playing varsity this year. "This year we are very strong at singles again, we hope to take the doubles teams as far as we can, and we are looking forward to a very good season," said Myzaki. Lauren Jones, who graduated from Saint Joseph in the class of 2008, was the senior class president and the number one singles tennis player who won the individual singles State Championship Title two years in a row. She played number one singles both her junior and senior years. "Jones is a very dedicated tennis player," said Gary Griffienhagen, Saint Joseph head tennis coach. "She has been playing since she was in the second grade, so she has had a lot of experience. She is very enthusiastic and very positive. As far as a person, she contributed a lot to the team. I would have her help me work a lot with the team on drills, and work with team members individually. "Jones would help me with the other players, and then when it was time for the state finals, I would spend time with just her," said Griffienhagen. "That proved to be a very workable situation. I would take time with her to work on certain shots and she was able to enhance her game and play more aggressively. "We actually had two people go all the way to win individual titles," said Griffienhagen. "Jones was one, and our second doubles team won. That gave us enough points to become co-champions with the Rowland Hall girls’ tennis team. It was very exciting because we had not won in 27 years, so it was a big deal, as well as for Jones to win back-to-back individual championship titles." Girls’ tennis is played in the fall and boys’ tennis is played in the spring. "The Judge Memorial Catholic High School boys’ tennis team had not won a state title since 1981," said Hank Kennedy, Judge Memorial head tennis coach. "They won the 2008 State Title Championship May 16-17. "They were really a dark horse team because they did not win the region championship," said Kennedy. "We lost to Park City High School in the region tournament. When we got into the state tournament, because of the way they set up the draw, you do not know whom you will play, but we were able to win the tournament." "Everyone played well the first day," said Kennedy. "Going into the second day, which was the semi-finals and finals, we were in a three-way tie with Park City and Logan High Schools. Logan was the defending champion. "We had Noel Hollingsworth, who was our number one singles player in the semi-finals," said Kennedy. "He won a big match. Trey Kennedy played great and won his match 6-2 and 6-1 in the semi-finals, and then went on to win his finals match. Kennedy won an individual state title at number two singles. Our other state champion was Andrew Lam, the number three singles player who won an individual title. He played great all year long. "Our number one doubles team was the only team that did not make it into the second round of the tournament," said Kennedy. "That was Kolby Newton and Sean McCoy, the young man who was killed in an accident this summer. That was such a tragedy. McCoy was a great person. He was an anchor for our team, a great competitor, and really helped the team throughout the year. But McCoy and Newton lost in the second round to a tough team. "Our number two doubles team was David May and Lucien Taillac. May and Lucien were losing and came back and won their match. May was hurt and needed ice bags on his shins. "To win the state title is a total points system," said Kennedy. "Every match we won contributed points to an overall total. It was exciting because we were not expected to win because we did not win our region." Kennedy said tennis offers students a circle of friends, an ability to network, and a sense of belonging. Tennis is a sport that if you are coordinated you can play, you do not have to be huge like you do for football or basketball. Tennis is a sport where, regardless of size, requires strategy. It is an individual sport, which teaches a player a lot about himself or herself, how to think and concentrate, and relax under pressure. It is good exercise and a way to have fun.
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