Going the distance with Max Manthou was tough enough already.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, that distance must seem even longer for whomever steps across the net from the Kentwood High sophomore tennis star.<\/p>\n
At least a mile longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always gotten by on talent, but I never went the extra mile,\u201d said Manthou, the defending Class 4A state boys singles champion. \u201c(Now), I\u2019m trying to get more intensity with my play. I\u2019ve been working pretty hard. I\u2019m hitting with many more people now, I\u2019m lifting (weights) every morning and still playing basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m focusing more on the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manthou\u2019s immediate future includes a return to state. He sealed that deal very handily on Wednesday with a pair of victories in the West Central District tourney at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway. Manthou blitzed Chad Edmonds of Emerald Ridge in the first round, 6-0, 6-0, then did likewise to Kentridge sophomore Matt Overland in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
That gave him a berth in Friday morning\u2019s semifinals against Tahoma senior Dan Cotton (results unavailable) and a guaranteed trip south to Vancouver next weekend.<\/p>\n
Kentwood coach Ingrid Bakke has noticed Manthou\u2019s ramped-up efforts since the end of last fall\u2019s boys season.<\/p>\n
\u201cStrengthwise, he\u2019s just a different player,\u201d Bakke said. \u201cAt this point, it\u2019s a lot of a mental game. Once you know the strokes, it\u2019s strategy and the mental part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of that mental approach is enjoying himself. Bakke has noticed that, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really wanted to play Matt (Overland),\u201d Bakke said. \u201cHe came over to the fence after the first set and said, \u2018This is fun.\u2019 And that\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manthou figures he won\u2019t have to look far to get an early taste of state. In the opposite semifinal at district are Puyallup senior Scott Sullivan and Bellarmine Prep senior Brian McPhee. Sullivan gave Manthou a run for it early in last year\u2019s district final before falling, 6-4, 6-1. McPhee has won back-to-back state doubles titles, but is playing singles this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are the two dudes,\u201d Manthou said of his toughest potential competition. \u201cBrian and Scott are pretty close. I don\u2019t have a preference on who I\u2019d rather play.\u201d<\/p>\n
One more time<\/b><\/p>\n
Two Kentridge senior doubles teams will get to cap their careers in the Class 4A state tournament.<\/p>\n
Zack AhYat and Luyang Gai, who have been state boys doubles runners-up the past two years, won both of their district matches on Wednesday to earn a return trip. Anna McIntosh and Chelsey White, who have won back-to-back SPSL North and overall SPSL girls doubles titles, swept their first two district matches \u2013 bouncing back from a first-set loss in the quarterfinals \u2013 to punch their ticket.<\/p>\n
Kentwood\u2019s girls doubles combo of Kendall Bielinski and Kelsey Hurter won their first-rounder in three sets, but lost in the quarterfinals. They remain alive for a state spot on the consolation side of the district bracket. Ditto for Conquerors teammates Breanna Esber and Alyssa Nagai, who won in the first round before going down in the quarters.<\/p>\n
Kentridge\u2019s Matt Overland and Garrett Ballou won their first-rounders before losing and the quarterfinals and are still in the consolation hunt.<\/p>\n
Bouncing back with consolation wins after first-round losses were Kentwood\u2019s Laura Araki in girls singles, Kentridge\u2019s girls doubles combo of Jazmin AhYat and Kelsey Robson, and Kentlake\u2019s girls doubles team of Heidi Weaver and Julie Williams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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