Conner Ghirardo
Senior | Arlington
Ghirardo spent the past couple seasons learning from former Arlington No. 1 singles player Trent Sarver. Now that Ghirardo’s senior year has come around – and Sarver has graduated – he is ready to be the new No. 1 for Arlington.
“He’s probably mentally, the toughest player I’ve ever had,” Arlington head coach Sean Cunningham said. “… He doesn’t doubt himself. He’s learning to be the No. 1.”
Like Sarver, Ghirardo was a first-team all-league selection last season. He has spent four years on the Eagles’ varsity squad. The senior captain, who is also an ASB officer and involved with music, has “taken the younger players under his reigns,” Cunningham said.
The Arlington coach also praises Ghriardo’s style, which is just as much mental as physical.
“He’s all finesse. He’s totally cerebral,” Cunningham said. “He’s a really bright kid. He’s very strategic in how he plays the game. He figures out what his opponent’s got, what he has to do to survive against his opponent and then what he has to do to beat his opponent.”
Jimmy Hua
Junior | Kamiak
There was an aspect of Hua’s game last season that Kamiak head coach Vic Alinen encouraged the Knights’ No. 1 singles player to improve.
So the junior spent all summer playing in tennis clubs and tournaments working on it.
“It’s a thrill for any tennis coach to have a guy who loves the game and expends great effort in the offseason working on his game,” Alinen said. “This year that was volleying, which was his major obstacle to improve on from last year. He has just been excellent at volleys and putting balls away, where last year that was his Achilles heel. It’s totally improved his game.”
Alinen says Hua still has a few minor things to work on, but believes Hua – a first-team all-Wesco 4A South selection last season – will be difficult for his opponents to beat.
“He is definitely one of my best that’s ever played for me and I’ve had some great ones,” Alinen said. “He is one of the most consistent players with groundstrokes. He doesn’t error himself out of matches. He stays in games and just gets one more ball back (across the net) than the other guy.”
Ulises Aceves
Junior | Everett
Many local players spend the offseason improving their game at tennis clubs but Aceves may have put in more effort than most.
Aceves, a first-team all-Wesco 3A North selection last season, could routinely be seen honing his skills on his home tennis court all summer long as he prepares for his junior season.
“He’s the kind of guy, all summer long, if you happen to drive by the Clark Park tennis courts (in Everett) there’s more than a 50 percent chance he’ll be hitting,” said Everett co-head coach Jim Conner. “He’s always working.”
Both Everett coaches, including co-head coach Tim Boyd, say Aceves’ strong work ethic translates into competition. The pair agree that Aceves is going to give it his all every time he picks up a racket.
“He’s the type of kid you can depend on to go out there and play tough every match, every point,” Boyd said. “No matter who the opponent is, he’s going to go out there and give you 110 percent every time. When he gets out there you know he’s going to give you everything he can to win.
“He’s a great kid and works hard, no question about it.”
Patrick Luangrath
Senior | Glacier Peak
The Glacier Peak tennis program hasn’t been around a long time, but it has produced more than a few strong players.
Tops among them, is Patrick Luangrath.
A first-team all-league selection a year ago, Luangrath once again will be leading the Grizzlies this season after spending the offseason improving his stamina.
“Patrick has put in a lot of hours in the weight room and on the courts this offseason to improve his endurance,” said Glacier Peak head coach Micah Perron. “…This year the kid doesn’t get tired.
“Combine that with his powerful baseline game, defense and a solid transition game,” Perron continued, “and Patrick is probably the best player to come through Glacier Peak.”
Perron is trying to enjoy his last season with Luangrath, a player he knows will be hard to replace.
“Patrick will be missed next year,” Perron said. “…He leads by example in the way he conducts himself at practice and at matches. The entire team, JV and Varsity, really look up to Patrick as a leader and captain.”
Kincaid Norris
Sophomore | Snohomish
As a freshman, Norris hit the court and excelled immediately for the Panthers, being named to the All-Wesco 4A North first team.
“We knew he was coming when he was an eighth grader,” said Snohomish head coach Dick Jansen. “He’s just a kid that’s totally devoted to tennis. He has great feet and is learning to develop his pace.”
The Snohomish coach said having a strong player like Norris for the next three years will also help push the other Panthers to continue to improve.
“He’s like Robinson Cano on the Mariners,” Jansen said. “He makes everybody better. He makes his teammates better.”
While star freshman occur at a few schools in Wesco, Jansen said it’s a bit more rare at Snohomish.
But the coach is not complaining.
“We’re so happy to have him,” Jansen said. “His work ethic pushes him to be better. He’s going to be big for us.”
— David Krueger, Herald Writer
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