HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ TENNIS PREVIEW : Ranked Players Don’t Get Courted at Some Schools

Meilen Tu is a member of the U.S. Junior National tennis team and spent part of the summer playing international tournaments in Europe. But when it comes to playing for her school team at Granada Hills High, Tu doesn’t fit the program.

Without Tu, the Granada Hills team might be competitive. With her, the Highlanders probably would be competing for a North Valley League championship this fall. Tu, a junior, said she wanted to join the team last year if she wasn’t required to play in matches.

“I was willing to play, but (Coach Ann Kennedy) wanted me there for every practice and every game,� Tu said. “That would take up too much time.�

Tu is one of three area players seeded among the nation’s top 20 by the United States Tennis Assn. in girls’ 18-and-under singles. The others are Ania Bleszynski of Thousand Oaks and Krissy Hamilton of Agoura Hills. Because of similar circumstances, none of the three play for their high schools.

Many ranked juniors want to play for their high school teams but can offer only a part-time commitment while they train on their own for national events. Each coach deals with the dilemma differently. Camarillo High Coach Frances Giffin is allowing Monique Allegre, a ranked 16-year-old, to play on a limited basis. Harvard-Westlake Coach Richard Kinuya offered a similar limited-participation plan to Bleszynski. Kennedy said she wanted a full-time commitment from Tu at Granada Hills.

“I practice in Newport Beach every day,� Tu said. “It’s about an hour and 15-minute drive. But I would have played on my high school team because of what it offers socially.�

But the point is moot, Kennedy said. The Highlanders take only full-time players.

“It would be too high a price to pay,� Kennedy said of risking team dissension to make room for the star player. “I don’t know if Mrs. Tu wants her daughter on a team. But I do think some of these young people are missing it.�

Hamilton, 13, a freshman at Louisville High, is concentrating on academics and satellite tournaments this fall. Tu is doing the same while recovering from a back injury. Bleszynski, 16, a senior at Harvard-Westlake, is an honor student who will devote her free time to studying, playing tournaments and visiting colleges this fall.

Hamilton, playing against girls up to five years older than her this summer, won the Southern California Tennis Assn. Sectional Championships in girls’ 18-and-under singles. Bleszynski played in the Junior U.S. Open two weeks ago and won two bronze medals in the U.S. Olympic Festival in July.

All three were seeded and reached the round of 16 in the USTA National Championships in 18-under singles in August. All three could dramatically improve the fortunes of their high school teams with a few swift forehands.

The players at Harvard-Westlake, already ranked No. 1 by the Southern Section in Division III, said they were willing to compromise with Bleszynski so she could play No. 1 singles for the Wolverines. The only requirement: She must practice at least twice a week and play in all matches.

Bleszynski gave the offer much consideration. But on Tuesday, she told Kinuya no. Even part-time demands were too much.

“Rich said he would do it so I could play big matches,� Bleszynski said. “I would like to be on the team. It would be fun and I would have somebody good to hit with (in matches). I wanted to do it. But I understand it’s up to the team.�

Bleszynski transferred to Harvard-Westlake after playing at Marlborough High for two years. As a sophomore, she led the Mustangs to the semifinals of the section team tournament while playing No. 1 singles. Team members at Harvard-Westlake had no doubt Bleszynski would help them do the same. But they wanted Bleszynski on their terms.

“It’s really important for us to have that team unity,� said Harvard-Westlake captain Karen Koven, a senior who plays No. 3 doubles. “If Ania could help us with that, we’d love to have her play. But we decided it was really crucial for her to come to at least a couple practices a week.�

Elsewhere, sentiments are different. Several ranked USTA juniors have joined the team at Peninsula in Palos Verdes, including Janet Lee, the national 18-under champion who is playing No. 1 singles. Teammates at Camarillo greeted Allegre with open arms.

Allegre, a junior who was ranked 13th in girls’ 16s in Southern California last year, practices on her own and plays for the Scorpions only against tough opponents. She benefits from a different philosophy. Giffin, the Camarillo coach, said it is her obligation to accommodate a top player who wants to compete for her school.

“I said to Monique, ‘Hey, we’ll work something out,’ � Giffin said. “I’m interested in my players as people. I’m interested in what’s best for them and their futures. I’m not in it for my own trip.

“The team is fine with it. The kids haven’t said anything, so I assume everything’s OK. And when Monique’s there, she’s there . She’s a leader in spirit and encouragement. She does our pregame introductions. She gives her teammates advice and she’s involved with their matches. She even leads them in drills.�

TEAMS TO WATCH

Harvard-Westlake: They don’t want to sound cocky, but the Wolverines like their chances of repeating as Division III section champions even without Bleszynski and despite the fact they have only two seniors. Said captain Koven, “I think we’ve got enough to win it. We’ve got as much potential as last year.�

Harvard-Westlake (3-0) is not avoiding anybody. The team opened the season by defeating Brentwood, ranked first in Division V, 15-2, and followed with a 12-6 victory over Corona del Mar, ranked seventh in Division I. Its nonleague schedule includes Laguna Beach (No. 1 in Division II), Peninsula (No. 1 in Division I) and two matches with Marlborough (No. 5 in Division II).

“Our top two singles players will get us games and our doubles teams are deep,� Kinuya said. “Our No. 3 team can beat a No. 1 team.�

Junior Melanie Schoernberg, a returning All-Mission League doubles player, moves to No. 3 singles behind No. 1 Romy Mehlman and No. 2 Chanie Raykoff. Junior Andrea Levine and senior co-captain Gloria Abramson (returning all-leaguer) play No. 1 doubles. Junior Natalie Rice (returning all-leaguer) is teamed with Amanda Countner, a freshman who is nationally ranked in girls’ 14s, at No. 2 doubles. Junior Julie Green teams with Koven at No. 3 doubles.

Westlake: The Warriors, ranked fourth in Division I, have no superstars and the popularity of tennis is waning in the community, said Coach Connie Flanderka. But one aspect of Warrior tennis hasn’t wavered: tradition. Remarkably, Westlake won a section title in 1978, the year the school opened. That group of underclassmen set the tone for section titles in 1984, ’90 and ’91. Westlake (4-0, 1-0 in the Marmonte League) has a run of seven consecutive league titles and bolstered its bid for No. 8 with a 10-8 victory over rival Camarillo on Tuesday.

No. 1 singles player Joanna Mazur has Division II college potential and twins Katy and Erin Smith, freshmen at No. 2 and 3 singles, promise to keep Westlake strong at the top. The doubles lineup is loaded with experienced players: junior Gina Reese and senior Helen Priedkalns at No. 1; seniors Andrea Hura and Allison Milchanowski at No. 2, and juniors Allyson Whitfield and Michelle Clark at No. 3.

Camarillo: The presence of Allegre has much to do with the Scorpions’ No. 6 ranking in Division I. It wasn’t enough to overtake Westlake on Tuesday, but Westlake’s advantage was only 83-80 in games and Camarillo will get another shot later in the season. The Scorpions, playing only underclassmen, should get better.

No. 2 and 3 singles players Darian Chappell and Jennifer Messmer are daughters of teaching pros.

Burbank: The Bulldogs (4-0) figured to challenge for the Division III title before three of their top four players left the program. One moved, one switched to volleyball and one quit because of a disagreement with her father. Senior Corie Simmons, two-time defending Foothill League champion, and junior Analisa Swan are a combined 22-2 in sets so far. The No. 1 team of Carolyn Mathe and Jannell Garding will challenge for the league doubles title.

Quartz Hill: The Rebels (3-2) have had early losses to Chaminade and Burbank but they have plenty of talent to win a fifth consecutive Golden League championship with Yashma Patel playing No. 1 singles. Patel hasn’t lost a league match in two years.

Quartz Hill has a freshman in Roopa Dandamudi at No. 2. Senior Rycy Hart and sophomore Praveena Dharma figure to be the league’s top doubles team.