PREP PREVIEW: Canyon Crest Academy, Bishop’s figure to be among San Diego-area’s best again in boys tennis

Boys tennis

First matches: Were played Saturday

CIF team play-in round: April 15

CIF team playoffs: April 16-18

CIF team finals: April 20

CIF individual finals: Singles and doubles: April 29-May 4

State team regionals: May 17-18

State team championships: May 25

Defending champions:

Open Division: Canyon Crest

Division 1: Santana

Division 2: Steele Canyon

Division 3: Vincent Memorial

2023 singles champion: Jackson Codd, Canyon Crest Academy (now at Bowdoin College)

2023 doubles champions: Kyle Billeponteau and Kevin Wang, Canyon Crest Academy

What to look for: The CIF San Diego Section Open Division championships ended in dramatic fashion last season, with Canyon Crest Academy edging Bishop’s in close singles and doubles matches.

The Ravens have graduated most of their best players, leaving Bishop’s as the team to beat in 2024.

“On paper, we were supposed to be better than CCA last year,” said Bishop’s coach Matt Copland. “It came down to our seniors versus their seniors and we lost in two sets. It was really close. In singles, their guy was able to play better than us.”

Bishop’s returns junior Matthew Carioscia in singles, and the Carlton Schell-Alex Balog doubles team is regarded as one of the best in the region.

Canyon Crest Academy coach Kevin Brown has lost his top three players to graduation; his main doubles team is also gone. CCA returns a trio of players with plenty of experience: Shaurya Bairaria, Aidan Brucker and Hansi Yang.

“I have an interesting mix of kids,” Brown said. “No superstars yet.”

Santana coach John Lelevier explained that his team will rely on doubles to make another run at a Division 1 title. The Sultans lost top players to graduation but the plan is to build a deep team with good players, including seniors Moses Espino and Nathan Martin.

“We should be strong in doubles because of our depth and we will focus on sneaking in some wins in singles,” Lelevier said. “We should be solid.”

Top teams:

Bishop’s

Canyon Crest Academy

Cathedral Catholic

Del Norte

Eastlake

Otay Ranch

Santana

Steele Canyon

Torrey Pines

Westview

Players to watch:

A.J. Abarca, Otay Ranch, So.

Davis Adamson, Mission Bay, Sr.

Shaurya Bairaria, Canyon Crest Academy, Jr.

Aidan Brucker, Canyon Crest Academy, Sr.

Alex Balong, Bishop’s, Sr.

Matthew Carioscia, Bishop’s, Jr.

Arsiya Farajollahi, Del Norte, Jr.

Robert Freedman, Torrey Pines, Jr.

William Kleege, Torrey Pines, Jr.

Sasha Kremiliovsky, Poway, Jr.

Dylan Patterson, La Jolla Country Day, Jr.

Ryan Qin, Bishop’s, Jr.

Carlton Schell, Bishop’s, Sr.

IVAN OROZCO