Historic Victory

On May 3rd, La Jolla High School secured its 41st CIF San Diego Section Division I championship title, achieving a remarkable 10-8 victory against Patrick Henry. This triumph marks the Vikings’ second consecutive championship in this division.

Singles Players Shine

The match was marked by the outstanding performance of La Jolla’s singles players, who managed to sweep all nine individual matches. Notable contributions came from Leo Thieler and Joe Sammartino, each of whom lost only two games throughout their contests. Jacob Chorny also had an impressive showing, winning with scores of 6-2, 7-5, and 6-3.

Coach’s Perspective

Jack Kruger, head coach of the Vikings, expressed pride in his team’s execution. “That’s been the strength of our team the whole year,” said Kruger, a former member of the Vikings’ 1977 CIF championship team who later competed professionally, including at Wimbledon. “They stepped up. We had a plan, executed it and played beautifully.”

Reflecting on the achievement of back-to-back titles, Kruger stated, “It hasn’t sunk in, but it feels fantastic. We always want to keep striving to get better. That’s our motto and the kids bought in.”

Context of the Match

Both La Jolla and Patrick Henry are part of the Western League and had previously faced off in the regular season, splitting two matches. This championship victory solidifies La Jolla’s position as a leader in boys tennis titles in the region.