Orange Belt Boys Tennis Player of the Year
Porterville’s Hayes wins consecutive EYL titles
With two back-to-back East Yosemite League doubles’ championships under his belt, senior Blake Hayes is the best doubles players in Porterville High School history in the last 20 years.
The senior, and the 201617 Orange Belt Player of the Year, won his second doubles championship this season after taking down Delano’s duo in a 6-2, 6-1 victory.
“I’ve been here almost 20 years,” said Porterville coach, Kurt Nielsen. “I don’t know if anybody’s won two EYL doubles titles. So as far as I’m concerned, just based on that record he’s one of the best doubles players in the last 20 years.”
Unlike many other players who are successful in doubles and then move on to focus on singles, Hayes stuck with doubles after winning the title in his junior year. He went 7-3 in doubles this season and said doubles is just something he picked up early on when he made varsity as a sophomore.
“I really liked playing,” he said. “Came in [my] sophomore, made varsity, played with a senior and I just started playing [in matches]. I was using tactics and I really just liked to play doubles.”
For Hayes, who is also Porterville’s No. 1 in singles, doubles is where he found his competitiveness.
“That’s where I first started getting competitive and so I learned a lot more,” he said. “And it was just lot better and I picked it up a lot more than singles and I have more experience.”
This season Hayes put his trust in his good friend Rasheem Rayani, Porterville’s No. 3 in singles, and partnered up with him for the No. 1 doubles. He told Rayani early on that his goal was to win the EYL doubles.
“His partner Rasheem, was like No. 6 [in singles] last year and a No. 3 doubles player,” said Nielsen. “Wasn’t that strong a doubles player and this year [but] Blake’s the kind of guy that makes his partner stronger. That’s one of the best compliments you can give him. He makes whoever he plays with better.”
Rayani, who was 6-4 in singles, and Hayes were a force in their doubles matches. They moved fluidly, with synchronization that showed not only their skills but the importance of chemistry between teammates on the court.
“It was just like the chemistry, we know [each other] so [we] click,” Hayes said about playing with Rayani. “We had our plays and we really worked well together. And he liked to hit down the line, some good shots down the line that we planned out.” The two also placed third in a tournament of 48 teams in Visalia. Hayes’ skills on the court weren’t limited to just doubles. In the competitive EYL, he went 5-5 as Porterville’s No. 1. He’s been the Panthers’ No. 1 since his junior year when he worked his way up from the bottom of the ladder.
“He was even solid in singles this year,” said Nielsen. “5-5, which is pretty good because it’s a tough league and all the teams, unlike the girls, all the teams are pretty strong in the boys. He had a good career. I think he’s deserving as anyone but he’s a doubles specialist for sure.”
One of Hayes’ favorite matches from this season was when he beat Delano’s No. 1 Nayib Rivera, one of the top players in the EYL, earlier this season at home. Hayes won 6-3, 6-4.
“I beat him first and he was beating everybody besides the No. 1 Mission Oak [Daniel Garcia] kid. So basically, he’s the second guy and then I came and I beat him pretty
good. So, he wasn’t really too happy after that,” said Hayes with a smile.
Hayes said that he was happy with the way season ended. He looks forward to moving on to club tennis when he attends Santa Monica Community College where he expects it to be more competitive.
“Through high school, it’s more the fun,” he said. “I know just like in anything, the higher you go, it’s more competitive. It’s just practicing on your own game and getting better.”