Issue Date: 2/8/10
Ace future for tennis teams
By Denny Dorsey
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Both teams won the Pacific Coast Conference last year, and began defense of their titles last week. The men lost to Cypress last Tuesday and the women played Saddleback on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Ronnie Mancao, head coach of both programs, is entering his 25th year of coaching. He was the 2009 PCC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year.
During his tenures as coach at both MiraCosta and Palomar colleges, his teams have captured ten PCC championships.
Though he is feeling the loss of key players from last season, Coach Mancao said he is optimistic about this year's teams.
On both the men's and women's sides, he said he sees rosters that have more talent overall.
Both teams have lost significant players from last year's teams.
The men will be without D.J. Jaehnig, with the women losing Anna Polivnikova. Each was player of the year in the conference.
Players for the women's team are optimistic regarding the upcoming season.
"One of my main goals is to earn a scholarship to a four-year school," Brooke McBride said.
McBride sat out last season to concentrate on her studies.
"I would like to play well enough to earn a tennis scholarship to a four-year school because I want to pursue a nursing career," freshman player Pamela Cademas said.
Like the women, the men said the players on this year's men's team see success in their future. Ashton Babaee, who is projected to be the Comets' No. 1 singles player, recently relocated from South Carolina.
"I'd like to get a scholarship to SDSU, to play on their tennis team, and get a business degree," Babaee said.
Freshman standout Micah Groom's goal is simpler: "Win a PCC championship."
If past success, enthusiasm and confidence of this year's players is any indication, Palomar College students are in for another great year of tennis.
Both teams have upcoming games against Irvine Valley and Orange Coast on Feb. 9 and 11, respectively.
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