OLYMPIA — In order to join the Olympia High School boys tennis team, it’s essentially a prerequisite to live, breathe, eat and sleep the sport of tennis.
From nightly 6 p.m. summer runs on the OHS tennis courts behind Ingersoll Stadium to additional reps immediately following matches in the fall, the Bears are always locked in.
Despite having just one returning varsity player from a season ago, Olympia has rolled through the South Puget Sound League with confidence, stringing together multiple lengthy wins streaks this fall.
In their regular season finale on Thursday, Oct. 8, the Bears encountered their toughest test yet in a Rogers (Puyallup) team on a historic run through the SPSL. With a 4-1 win over Olympia, the Rams clinched their first SPSL title in 29 years and their first undefeated season in program history.
Olympia’s young team proved that those long hours on the tennis courts are steadily preparing the Bears for sustained success down the road. A match against an opponent like Rogers was the ultimate measuring stick for head coach Chanel Nielsen to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses with the SPSL Tournament starting next weekend.
“I was actually encouraged because there were a couple really close matches. I was really happy with how our doubles teams played because we did really well and kept it close,” Nielsen said.
Olympia’s lone victory came in third doubles as Brandon Phan and Tristan Reck powered past David Jun and Isaac Lee 7-6 (7-2), 6-4). Throughout the match, the Bears duo showed emotion and celebrated after clutch points, something Nielsen has been emphasizing to the whole team.
“I was proud of them. They have been working on communicating and staying positive, and they really did that,” Nielsen said.
The first doubles matchup between Olympia’s Jerry Yen and Brian Yen and Rogers’ Tadele Schmidt and Timothy Lee was electric from start to finish. The Yen brothers — Jerry a junior and Brian a freshman — rebounded from a 4-6 defeat in the first set with a 6-4 triumph in set two to force a third-set tiebreaker. Olympia’s standout tandem kept it close in the final frame but allowed the final four points in a 10-6 loss.
Jerry Yen, nicknamed “Smiley,” is the lone varsity returner on the roster, a vastly different spot on the totem pole within the program after being a newcomer on a veteran-heavy team last season. Even as a sophomore a year ago, he also advanced to state in 4A doubles, and he’s motivated to team up with his brother on a deep postseason run.
“It’s been cool to see him develop and become more confident in himself,” Nielsen said of Jerry Yen. “Last year, he was the newbie on varsity. He definitely looked like a deer in the headlights, especially at districts. I think he’s played with a lot more confidence this year.”
Evan Guan and James Smith of Olympia fell short in second doubles 1-6, 4-6, to Luke Egan and Talan Thomas of Rogers.
In first singles, Olympia’s Nijel Kikuta retired from his match against Bennett Canion due to an injury. Nick O’Sullivan of the Bears was defeated by Thomas Sevey of the Rams in second doubles.
Although the match didn’t count toward the varsity final score, Olympia’s Henry Li came out on top against Bryan Sona of Rogers 6-3, 6-2, in third singles.
Olympia will next compete at the SPSL Tournament beginning next Friday, Oct. 16 at the University of Puget Sound. Nielsen will bring her whole team to Tacoma for the two-day tournament, as the Bears will look to harness their year-round commitment to the sport.
“They’re all out here all the time hitting just for fun. That’s how it’s been for years,” Nielsen said. “They’re all really welcoming. I always have a really good group. I’ve been here six years and I haven’t had a bad lot yet. It’s why we have such a deep team because everybody’s getting their friends out here. It fosters a really encouraging environment for everyone.”
