Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Feisty Desert Oasis standout Gajardo claims Sunset crown
Trailing by set, Coronado’s Rizov rallies for Sunrise title
Desert Oasis senior tennis player Ben Gajardo didn’t hesitate to critique his play after nearly every unforced error during the Sunset Region boys final against Durango’s Cesar Castro.
“You’re playing so bad!” he exclaimed several times.
But for Gajardo — a fourtime state tournament qualifier — even a bad outing, in reality, is pretty good.
Gajardo beat Castro 6-1, 6-3 to claim the Sunset Region championship Saturday at Darling Tennis Center. Both players will advance to the state tournament this week in Reno.
“It means a lot (to get back to state),” Gajardo said. “I’ve been with my team this whole time. They’ve always had my back supporting me. … It feels great that I can show my team that I can make it to state.”
The state tournament is nothing new for Gajardo, who won the tournament in 2014 and competes in national tournaments throughout the year. He earned the region’s top seed and breezed through the first four rounds of the tournament, losing only three games in four matches.
Castro walked through his portion of the draw, too, and lost just four games in four matches to set the stage for Saturday’s final.
But Gajardo was too good. He dominated his service games and wore out Castro with long, surgical rallies.
In doubles, top-seeded Mike Safbom and Brandon Sulzberg of Palo Verde beat Clark’s Marcus Pasimio and Simran Shah 7-6 (2), 6-2 to win the regional championship. Both pairs advanced to state.
SUNRISE REGION
Coronado’s Martin Rizov navigated through the Sunrise tournament bracket, beating Silverado’s Seth Forstner 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the championship match. Both players will advance to the state tournament in Reno.
The Green Valley duo of Ryan Elezra and Robbie Sarosi claimed the Sunrise Region’s doubles title. They had a bye in the first round, won their next three matches in straight sets, then beat Las Vegas High’s Trey Chauncey and Johnathan Sosa via walkover in the final.
Sosa sustained an injury in the final, and Coronado’s Joshua Egbert and Wesley Harris, who lost to Elezra and Sarosi in the semifinals, will replace the Las Vegas team at state.
CLASS 3A SOUTHERN REGION
Western’s Rua Elmore dropped just four sets in his domination of the Class 3A Southern Region singles tournament draw. Elmore won the title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over The Meadows’ Nathaniel Van der post.
In the doubles final, The Meadows’ Ryan Chang and Brian Capp defeated teammates Edward Rastgoo and Justin Finseth 6-4, 7-5.
Both players qualified for this week’s state tournament in Reno. Boch-Collins, a fivestar recruit, according to the tennis recruiting network, could be one of the favorites.
“I had never done high school tennis before. This is my first year. I wanted to have fun,” Boch-Collins said. “It was my goal to make it to the regional finals and make it to Reno. It was my main focus this season.”
Boch-Collins beat Mitchell during the regular season and said she realized at that point she had a chance to make the state tournament. She didn’t lose a game in the region tournament en route to a rematch with Mitchell in the final.
Clark coach Francie Angelov said she recognized Boch-Collins’ potential a few years ago at the middle school level. Boch-Collins had made a name for herself on the national circuit.
“You could see that she had really good court IQ,” Angelov said. “This girl knows what she’s doing.”
In the doubles final, Bishop Gorman’s Emma Figueredo and Angelique Friedrich defeated Palo Verde’s Abby Lewis and Kaya Richardson 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Both teams advanced to state. SUNRISE REGION
Green Valley’s Daria Shalina started the Sunrise Region singles tournament as the No. 1 seed and finished No. 1.
Shalina rallied to beat Coronado’s Hannah Grossman 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the title match. Both players advanced to the state tournament.
In the doubles final, Liberty’s top-seeded Peyton and Parker Burk defeated teammates Megan Quandt and Madison Knoblock 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Both teams earned state berths.
CLASS 3A SOUTHERN REGION
The Meadows’ Abbigail Klein defeated teammate Anuja Daulat 6-2, 6-1 in the girls singles title match. Both players advanced to state.
Mustangs doubles partners Olivia Waysack and Grace Nemec outlasted Moapa Valley’s Kinzi Robinson and Lindsey Leavitt 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 in the final. Both teams captured state berths.