Beaumont High is off to a fast start in boys’ tennis, even by the high standards set by the Cougars themselves over the past few years.
The Cougars have opened the 2011 season with back-to-back wins, including Thursday’s stunning 16-2 win over Indio, and expect plenty more as the season progresses.
Beaumont, armed with a roster stacked with experience, has qualified for the playoffs each of the past 18 seasons and won a league title two years ago.
Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We have had some great coaches over the years and we have a long tradition of very good teams,” Beaumont tennis coach Chet James said. “We are a good rural team. We are not a country club type team. Our kids get a lot out of it and have a lot of fun.”
Beaumont has seven seniors in its lineup, including returning league co-MVP Andrew Khong and returning doubles league champion Bobby Mahon and A.D. Chatigney. The other seniors include singles players Ty Hopp and Jakes Jones and doubles player Cam Sammons.
Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
That experience showed during Thursday’s win over the visiting Rajahs.
Beaumont swept the first round, dropped just one match in the second and took an 11-1 lead into the final round of play.
“This (Indio) is a team that traditionally beats us pretty good,” James said. “We’re feeling pretty good about this.”
The Cougars won eight of the nine matches in singles (Khong didn’t drop a game) and won eight of nine in doubles play.
“This was a big deal for us,” James said. “Indio has just murdered us. And it wasn’t expected. We knew we would play them much tougher. But this is good for us.”
Beaumont (2-0) opened the season with a 14-4 win over Redlands Citrus Hill and plays at Palm Springs today. The Cougars host defending CIF champion Arlington on Monday, play at Temecula Valley on Thursday and host Oxnard Pacifica on Friday.
In all, the Cougars play 12 matches in the month of March alone.
“We have a real ambitious preseason,” James said. “All are Div. 1 or 2 teams. That makes it tough but it doesn’t help to play teams that are weak.”
Beaumont expects to be in the thick of the race for the Mountain Pass League title. But James said the Cougars will be challenged by the likes Hemet, San Jacinto, Tahquitz and West Valley. Last season the Cougars lost the league title by 1 point but still reached the quarterfinals in the playoffs.
“It could be a three horse race,” James said. “We just want to learn in the preseason. We will probably take our lumps.”
Beaumont 16, Indio 2
Singles: Andrew Khong (BHS) won 6-0, 6-0, 6-0; Ty Hopp (BHS) won 6-0, 6-0, 6-1. Jake Jones (BHS) won 6-1, lost 4-6, won 6-3. Doubles: A.D. Chatigney-Bob Mahan (BHS) won 6-1, 6-0, 6-0; Kyle Poulter-Cam Sammons (BHS) won 6-1, 6-2, 6-0; Art Perez-Minh Quach (BHS) lost 6-7, won 6-2, 6-1.