Tennis: Double trouble

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - On display for the first time this season Friday

was the Corona del Mar High doubles team of senior Brian Morton and

sophomore Garrett Snyder.

Morton usually plays No. 1 singles for the Sea Kings in team matches,

and Snyder, a transfer from Santa Margarita, is normally in the No. 2 or

No. 3 singles slot.

But CdM Coach Tim Mang said they could combine to become one of the

best doubles teams in the CIF Southern Section this year.

“Garrett’s so smart and Brian’s such a heck of a player,” Mang said.

“I wrote a letter to Ojai saying I thought they should be seeded No. 1

(in the interscholastic division) this year.”

The Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, one of the most prestigious in the

country, is April 26-28.

The UCI-bound Morton, the top-ranked doubles player in Southern

California in the 18s, said he isn’t sure yet about playing doubles in

the CIF individual championships, but is open to the idea.

“Ojai and CIF have about the same people,” said Morton, who would also

like to show he’s more than a doubles specialist, adding “I really like

singles, too.”

In the opening round of the CdM National High School Boys Tennis

All-American Team Invitational at the Palisades Tennis Club, the Sea

Kings knocked off Horace Mann of Riverdale, N.Y., 8-1, as Morton and Snyder won their first doubles match together, defeating Brandon Weiskopf

and Allen Royce, 8-1.

In the quarterfinals against Brophy College Prep of Phoenix, Ariz.,

Morton-Snyder beat Todd Thurston and Brian Galvin, 8-1, at No. 1 doubles.

“With this team of Morton and Snyder, you’re talking about

national-caliber doubles,” Mang said.

Morton, junior teammate and defending Pacific Coast League singles

champion Cameron Ball, and a trio of University players (Aaron Yovan,

Jack Li and Henry Mak), are considered the league’s top singles players.

At the Ojai Tournament, Mang said he’s hoping CdM can win the Griggs

Cup, which goes to the high school team with the most points, based on

one singles entry and one doubles team.

“We have a chance with Cameron in singles and Brian and Garrett in

doubles,” said Mang.

Snyder, ranked No. 12 in Southern California in the 18s singles, is

thrilled just to be a part of the newfound and much-ballyhooed doubles

squad.

“Brian’s an incredible doubles player,” Snyder said. “He really feels

at home playing doubles. He’s got great hands.

“I like (the format in this tournament). It allows you to play singles

and doubles, and I like playing singles and doubles, especially with

Brian. I’d like to see where we would rank among the top doubles teams in

the nation.”

If CdM gets a shot at Peninsula today in the 5 p.m. finals at the

Palisades Club, Morton and Snyder will no doubt face some of the best

doubles players in the country in Rylan Rizza, Jeff Kazarian, Andrew

Cohen and Teige Sullivan.

“We’re definitely doing pretty well right now,” Snyder said. “We’re up

to the challenge.”