Boys tennis: The calvary rolls in

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - After an off-season where Newport Harbor High’s

boys tennis coach Richard Berman worried if he would have a team or not,

40 players showed up for tryouts.

“I guess the kids didn’t want to go through all those practices,” he

said.

But the Sailors decided to get serious about this season, and they are

left with a group of kids devoted as they are young.

One of the brightest newcomers for Newport is sophomore Nick Kuhle, a

transfer from Nevada who is the Sailors’ No. 1 singles player. Ranked in

the top five in his age group at Nevada, Kuhle is also the grandson of

John Wayne.

While his grandfather was his own man, Kuhle has been impressionable,

helping his talent grow.

“He’s super-attentive,” Berman said. “He loves to be coached.”

Another newcomer, freshman Brandon Lufty, is Newport’s No. 2 singles

player. A top football player on the freshman team, Lufty is big. But he

is deceptively quick.

“He’s got quick moves and great hands,” Berman said.

The No. 3 singles player is sophomore Eric Allione, a former member of

the sailing team who decided to concentrate on tennis. Although

inconsistent, he can be Newport’s best player when he’s peaking.

Sophomore Charlie Hirst is a solid player who rotates into the singles

lineup.

Newport’s No. 1 doubles squad of Ryan Curry and Colin Duncan is where all

the Sailors’ years of wisdom resides. Curry is Newport’s team captain.

“I was really sick for one month,” Berman said. “While I was out, he

organized practice and took everything upon himself.”

While Curry is the team captain, he and Duncan share that role and have

developed a good rapport with each other. They have also put up the most

impressive scores for Newport.

Junior Matt Connors and sophomore Brad Vallejo are the No. 2 doubles

team. Connors, according to Berman, is the doubles player with the most

potential, and he has stepped up his effort this year.

Juniors Horacio Correa and Robert Anderson both moved up from the junior

varsity squad into the No. 3 doubles spot. Berman said that they play up

to their opponents, giving the higher seeds fits.

Juniors Spencer Coldren and Nelson Meehan also see time in the doubles

lineup.

The Sailors have shown their youth so far, looking nervous in playing in

a community rich with tennis players.

“All of them struggled in their first match,” Berman said. “Most of them

are new at Newport Harbor. There was a lot of hype surrounding that

match, and a lot of people showed up to watch.”

But they have a lot of talent, and Berman, who has been helped

significantly by associate coach Shea Overfelt, feels once they are

acclimated to the school, they will settle down. But they have taken big

steps toward being a team, enacting tough team rules.

“I just want them to learn about the responsibilities of being on a

team,” he said. “I want them to get an understanding of representing a

school.”

Roster

Eric Allione So.

Robert Anderson Jr.

Spencer Coldren Jr.

Matt Connors Jr.

Horacio Correa Jr.

Ryan Curry Jr.

Colin Duncan Jr.

Charlie Hirst So.

Nick Kuhle So.

Brandon Lufty Fr.

Nelson Meehan Jr.

Brad Vallejo Jr.

Coach: Richard Berman