Breakers win pair in boys’ tennis

The Laguna Beach High boys’ tennis team opened up its season by winning two of its first three matches.

First-year head coach Aaron Talarico watched his squad begin its campaign on March 2 with a 10-8 victory over host Trabuco Hills. John Wes Robinson and Sean Ochwat swept at No. 1 doubles for the Breakers, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

On Monday, Laguna posted a 12-6 win over Whitney in the Breakers’ home opener. Dony Sand, Sergio Olamendi and Bobby Chapman swept in singles play for the Breakers.

Tuesday on the court wasn’t as kind to Laguna, which fell to host Newport Harbor, 16-2. Olamendi won both sets for the Breakers.

Talarico, who was an assistant to the Laguna girls’ team in 2004, returns to the school where he played from 1994-98. He lettered all four years and started at No. 1 singles his sophomore year. He was a three-time all-league pick, finalist at the CIF-Southern Section Division I Individual Tennis Tournament in 1998.

His first boys’ varsity team at Laguna consists of returners Sand, Ochwat, Chapman, Ben Viscarrat, Spencer Wu, Nico McManus and Sammy Gidanian.

The loss to Newport Harbor Tuesday didn’t sit well with Talarico.

“It is time someone lit a fire under this boys’ team,” Talarico said. “We have had a great history of excellence in the boys’ program. The best individual players in the tennis program have come from the boys’ team and we have had team success in the CIF competition in the past.

“Our performance against Newport was embarrassing. Give credit to Newport, but I could have sworn our guys were asleep out there. If I don’t see a better effort coming from our boys, I will play the JV team at varsity for the rest of the season.”