Blazing a new path

Maybe it was a cautionary, but casual move that gave the No. 1-6 Lindhurst High boys tennis players the day off against Encina on Wednesday — allowing them to rest up before next week's Golden Empire League championship — or maybe, the Blazers are just that much better than the rest of their competition.

Lindhurst once again showed off its depth by rolling Encina, 7-1, at home, and now sit on the cusp of a perfect season.

After going 13-1 and capturing the school's first-ever league tennis title last season, Lindhurst (13-0) is blazing its way to an undefeated year with just one match remaining against Golden Sierra on Friday.

"We're on target for another league title," said assistant coach Kenny Her. "I think we can go a little bit further than we did last year in Sections."

Last season, the Blazers fell to Colfax, 4-3, in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, but with 10 seniors, most of whom are on the boys' side, the Blazers are primed for a run.

In probably the most competitive match of the day, Lindhurst's Newbrian Lee defeated Encina's No. 2 player Wafa Sultano in the lone boys singles match, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

After splitting sets, Lee came back down 3-1 to edge Sultano with back-to-back points in the final set.

The Lindhurst girls had little difficulty on the day as No. 1 Choua Thao defeated Encina's Susanna Shkrabak, 6-3, 6-1 and No. 2 Mee Thao handled Olga Khonets, 6-3, 6-0.

"Our greatest strength is depth," Her said. "Most of our players, skill-wise, are pretty consistent across the board."

That's including the younger players, who got a start in the doubles matches.

While Lindhurst's Shong Her and Peter Yaug fell 10-6 to Encina's Kevin Vilysanc and John Tyamino in the Blazers' only loss on the day, Chu Xiong and Sean Yang got by Encina's Oleg Valiniasky and Slavik Skalsky, 10-8, in the second doubles match on the day.

On the girls' side, Lindhurst swept doubles with the combination of Choua Her and Joua Yang defeating Mariana Curoogio and Alina Shkrabak, 10-4, and Moa Vang and Pashoua Lee teaming up for a 10-7 victory over Ji Yang and Stella Njeri.

In the final match of the day, Chong Lee and Leslie Lee of Lindhurst finished on top against Laith Abboud and Liliya Karavan, 10-6.

Marysville has been the only team in the league to give Lindhurst problems. The Indians took the Blazers to the final match in both of their matches this season, but still fell 5-4.

"Marysville is very good," Her said. "So we'll see next week."

But Lindhurst athletics director Tim Bradbury knows when he's got a program on the right path.

"I'll tell you what, we are rockin' and rollin' out there," Bradbury said about Lindhurst tennis. "Ever since I got on board, coach Ting (Tanonglek) has dedicated countless time and energy to revamp that program."

The four-year coach is not only filling up the courts, he's also pushing to get those courts re-paved.

"Our next goal is to get the courts re-surfaced," Bradbury said. "It's about $5,000 a court and we have 10 courts, so it'll be expensive."

Tanonglek puts on an annual golf tournament at Plumas Lake to raise funds for the tennis program.

"He's self-sufficient. He takes care of business and he has fun with it," Bradbury said. "He and Kenny are perfect coaches. And the big thing is that those kids bought into the program and they're highly successful kids."

Her echoed Bradbury's statement.

"Almost all of these kids go on to four-year universities," Her said. "At least 15 of our players maintain a 3.5 GPA."

"It's amazing. They're doing a phenomenal job. I can't say enough about Ting and Kenny," Bradbury said. "It's win-win situation."

Contact sports reporter Bryan DeMain at appeal-democrat.com or at 749-4796