Miramonte No. 3 doubles player, Kyle Rechnitz, celebrates a point during the NCS Team Tennis final.
Jonathan Hawthorne
showing up in the big moments, and we did that today. We got what we wanted.” McCollom was named the East Bay Boys Tennis Coach of the Year by the Contra Costa Times in 2012, and could very well receive the honor again this year. Despite the individual accolades, he is quick to give credit to his players. “Teams are all about the guys that go out there and play,” he said. “We have great players and leaders who demand excellence and motivate each other. We are very balanced and we always show up with an outstanding understanding of the team concept.” Team captain Luke Bohuslav, one of the leaders McCollom specifically noted, led the way for the Matadors, winning both of his No. 1 singles matches in commanding fashion. In his team’s narrow 4-3 victory over Redwood in the semifinals, Bohuslav won his match in two sets, 6-0, 6-4. The senior was also victorious in two sets in the finals against Monte Vista, 7-6, 6-3. “We have been training for this for years and it feels great to win another title,” Bohuslav said with a shiny medal around his neck. “The first match was a little shaky in the beginning, but luckily we pulled it out. We were really pumped up for the second match and we came out hot.” Speaking of hot, the weather played a major factor in the final two rounds. With temperatures in the mid-90s, several players battled heat cramps and dehydration. Miramonte felt the effects from the heat, but was far from fazed. “It was tough in the heat, but we were prepared for it,” McCollom said. “We have been training hard, and that is one of the things that makes our team great. We have a very deep team and we practice hard with quality players every day.” Senior Andrew Tan and junior Logan Boersma both suffered cramps during their No. 1 doubles match against Monte Vista, but they found a way to dig deep and play through the pain. Although they lost the first set, they fought back and won the second. By the time their third set had begun, the Matadors had a 3-1 advantage over the Mustangs and needed to win just one more match to clinch the championship. With several teammates and fans watching, Tan and Boersma came through with a gritty performance and won a nail-biting third set, 7-5. Their teammates rushed the court in triumph immediately following the game-winning point. “The match was incredible, and the heat was a big factor,” Tan said afterwards. “We were cramping a lot, and we definitely had to work for every point. It always feels good to finish the match and see your teammates there running through the gate to celebrate.” Tan and Boersma’s heroic victory gave Miramonte a 4-1 lead, and the Matadors won the final two singles matches shortly after. Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™
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May 23, 2013
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