Natalia Mochernak woke up at 5:45 a.m. Saturday, drove to Orange County for a prestigious USTA doubles tournament, won her match, then had a decision to make.
Play more matches in the tournament or zip back home in traffic for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division team championship. A Torrey Pines High School senior, Mochernak went with her heart and her team.
“For the past four years this team has been my family,” said Mochernak. “They mean so much to me. I didn’t want to let these 17 girls down.”
She didn’t. Mochernak won all three of her singles sets and led the Falcons to an upset over two-time reigning Open Division champion Canyon Crest Academy at the Balboa Tennis Club. The final score was 9-9, Torrey winning based on total games, 76-71.
The win was Torrey Pines’ 32nd section title. La Jolla owns the second most championships, 24. It was the Falcons’ first title since 2017. Making the victory all the more special.
CCA beat Torrey twice this season, and the Falcons pulled off the upset without the reigning section singles champion, Rebecca Kong, who played in the Orange County USTA event.
Another factor that made the win all the sweeter?
With their courts being resurfaced, Torrey played every match this season on the road.
“Any parent knows the feeling of how proud they can be of their children,” said 72-year-old Torrey Pines head coach Don Chu. “These kids are more like my grandchildren. I’ve watched them grow up.”
Each team in the finals selected an opposing player to win a sportsmanship award. Junior Chaeyule Kang won for CCA, freshman Juny Huh for Torrey Pines.
The CIF individual tournament begins next week. Mochernak and Kong will compete in doubles.
Division I
Carlsbad 10, Scripps Ranch 8
No one can question whether the seventh-seeded Lancers deserved the DI title. They knocked off second-seeded La Jolla in the quarterfinals, third-seeded Our Lady of Peace in the semis and No. 1-seeded Scripps for the championship.
The last team to knock off the top three seeds on its way to a title was Cathedral Catholic in 2017, when the Dons won the DI crown.
Top singles player Mackenzie Lukin led the way, winning all three of her sets.
“It feels amazing. I’m beyond proud of my team,” said Lukin. “They put in so much effort. No one was more important than anyone else. It was a total team effort, from beginning to end.”
A key to the victory: the doubles team of Claire Sabella and Lily Nolte. They were down 4-5, love 40 in one set, facing three set points, then rallied for a 7-5 win.
“About gave me a heart attack,” said Carlsbad head coach Rich Mattingley.
Shreya Bharath won two singles sets for Scripps Ranch
The sportsmanship awards went to Sabella (Carlsbad) and Eva Bennett (Scripps Ranch).
Division II
Mater Dei 13, Coronado 5
Mater Dei dominated singles, winning all nine matches with No. 1 Isabella Arnaiz taking all three sets 6-0. It was a historic win for the Crusaders, who defended their DII title.
“Honestly, I’m speechless,” said Arnaiz. “I have no words for how I feel. I wanted to finish loud and proud, make my mark.”
Luka Maekwa and Samantha Hernandez also swept their singles matches. For Coronado, the doubles team of Grace Elardo and Maria Anaya won three sets.
The sportsman awards went to players who spell their first names slightly different but pronounce them the same, Aranza Luna of Coronado and Arantza Hernandez of Mater Dei.
Division III
Olympian 9 (78 games), Bonita Vista 9 (74 games)
The South Bay schools are less than four miles apart and even closer on the tennis court. It was the fourth time the teams met and Olympian’s third win.
The scores: 10-8, 10-8 for each school and a pair of 9-9 wins for Olympian.
The key for the Eagles was the doubles tandem of sophomores Angelina Abalos and Giulianna Gastelum, who won all three sets. Abalos’ twin sister, Alyssa, won two singles sets.
“That,” said Angelina Abalos, “was nerve-wracking. I’m still kind of shocked.”
Gastelum has played plenty of singles, but prefers having a partner on her side of the court.
“If something goes wrong, you can brainstorm,” she said. “If you’re getting a little too emotional, your partner can calm you down. I like the teamwork component.”
Yurbia Leon swept her singles matches for Bonita Vista.
The sportsmanship awards went to Juliana Martinez (Bonita Vista) and Noelle Pellicane (Olympian).
Norcross is a freelance writer.