Ganz Divulges His Plan: Change Oilers’ Attitude
It’s been a long time since anyone has talked boys’ tennis on the Huntington Beach High campus. The Oilers hadn’t won a Sunset League match in six years and they’ve only won three league titles in 65 years.
But this year, the Oilers are the talk of the Sunset. They are off to a 9-1 start and a 3-0 record in league.
The key to the turnaround?
How about first-year Coach Chris Ganz, who played for the Oilers when they won league titles in 1982 and ’84. He didn’t get a bunch of new players--the stars are seniors Dave Murphy and Matt Rigdon and junior Shawn Kuddera--but he has changed their attitudes.
“I’m teaching them to play real tennis,” Ganz said. “I’m on every court. On every changeover, I’m saying something. I teach them to play the way I played. I don’t think any of these kids thought they were good enough to win.”
Ganz went on to play at Orange Coast College and Long Beach State and he also spent a few years on the pro tour. He says his enthusiasm has been misinterpreted by some of his fellow coaches.
“I think they think I’m weird,” Ganz said. “I’m not sure I’m making a lot of friends now. But I hope they’ll begin to understand. I’m just teaching [my players] stuff I learned in college and on the tour. Things like where to stand on the doubles court and how to charge the net.”
The Oilers beat Esperanza, 11-7, and Fountain Valley and Marina, 10-8. They will probably suffer their first league loss today at home against third-ranked Los Alamitos (7-1, 3-0). But Ganz believes Huntington Beach will soon be able to compete with tennis powers such as Los Alamitos and Corona del Mar.
“I’ve never been so gratified with something,” Ganz said. “These kids are so excited. We do a team cheer after our matches and these kids are loud. I don’t want this to be a one-year thing. We’re going to build something big. I want to build a dynasty here.”
Ganz, who coached La Quinta to a Garden Grove League title last year, is already beginning to build. He has received enough donations to install wind screens on Huntington Beach’s first three courts.
LOOKING AHEAD
Second-ranked Corona del Mar (14-4) will meet undefeated Palos Verdes Peninsula at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Jack Kramer Club in a rematch of last year’s Southern Section Division I championship. The Sea Kings defeated Peninsula last year, but Peninsula is a slight favorite on Wednesday. The Panthers won Corona del Mar’s National High School All-American tournament and are ranked No. 1 in Division I.
Cameron Ball, Corona del Mar’s No. 2 singles player, suffered a jammed thumb last week while trying to catch a tennis ball. The injury has been affecting his two-handed backhand, but Ball is expected to play Wednesday.
Corona del Mar Coach Tim Mang did receive some good news last week. Junior Hunter Jack, who has missed the last two seasons with injuries to his shoulder, ankle and collarbone, could be back in the singles lineup next week.
If you have an item or idea for the prep boys’ tennis report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at: david.mckibben@latimes.com
