Stalder, Hoffmann are All-Americans in tennis

The top high school tennis players in Southern California gathered in the same room Monday night at the Newport Beach Yacht Club.

In a sport as physically demanding and often isolated as tennis, rivalries sometimes may form. But everyone there for the Southern California National High School Tennis All-American Awards banquet was there in the spirit of teamwork.

Newport Harbor High senior Reese Stalder and Corona del Mar junior Bjorn Hoffmann were among the 12 players from Southern California honored as All-Americans by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation, of which former longtime CdM Coach Tim Mang is executive director. Eighty players overall from around the country earned the All-American honor.

“So many familiar faces here,” said Bjorn Hoffmann, a Cal commit, in accepting his All-American award. “It’s just so nice to go through it all together, with so many familiar faces. We’re all just kind of growing up together, and I’m going to see a lot of you guys in college. Such good company.”

Mang had former Corona del Mar High, UC Irvine and pro tennis standout Mike Briggs there as a special guest. Briggs did not give a speech, keeping the spotlight on the players, though he handed out a few awards.

Mang remarked at the number of tennis greats that were assembled in the same room. Stalder’s father, Curt, played at UC Irvine, and mom Diane played at USC. Hoffmann’s father and mother, Carsten and Biljana, both played at UCI.

Other Southern California boys’ All-Americans included Harvard-Westlake senior Michael Genender (bound for Stanford), San Marino senior Danny Gealer (UCLA), Palos Verdes junior Brandon Holt, Los Alamitos junior Riley Smith (USC) and Peninsula sophomore Connor Hance. Girls’ All-Americans included Peninsula senior Kenadi Hance (Washington), Laguna Beach senior Summer Dvorak (Vanderbilt), Capistrano Valley senior Katie Ta (Brown), Peninsula junior Ena Shibahara and Peninsula freshman Ryan Peus.

Holt’s mother, former world No. 1 Tracy Austin, was in attendance, as was Eric Peus who played at Stanford. Smith’s father is Peter Smith, the men’s tennis coach at USC.

But Monday’s banquet was really about the current group of players, many of whom are friends in the tight-knit community of tennis. Genender, the CIF Individuals champion last year and the Ojai champion this year, earned Southern California Boys’ MVP honors.

Shibahara, who went undefeated last fall and helped Peninsula earn the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship, was named the Southern California Girls’ MVP.

Reese Stalder, who is undefeated this season, appreciated the quality in the room.

“It’s good to have everyone in one spot and it’s not a tournament,” said Stalder, bound for TCU.

The season is not quite over for Stalder and Hoffmann. On Friday at Seal Beach Tennis Center, they will be competing in the round of 16 of the CIF Individuals tournament.

Stalder and Hoffmann are both among the favorites to win the CIF Individuals title. Newport Harbor Coach Kristen Case will not be surprised if her player comes away with the crown. But, in introducing Stalder, she said it was his team leadership that was really key this season for the Sailors. Newport Harbor went a strong 18-4 this season and advanced to the second round of the Division 1 playoffs, putting a scare into No. 2-seeded Beverly Hills before falling, 11-7.

“He’s just done an amazing job not only on the court but with his teammates, especially this year,” Case said of Stalder. “His leadership was unbelievable. He’s been a great representation of class, respect. He’s one of the most humble kids to have ever played for Newport Harbor. We’re just very grateful … he’s been a great representative for Newport tennis.”