One more to go

From an average program to a revered dynasty.

This is the transition Porterville High boys tennis has made in the last two decades.

And the accolades have to be directed at coach Pat McCusker, a man who seems to find a way to develop a powerhouse each season.

When McCusker grabbed the reigns in 1971, it took him just three years to claim his first East Yosemite League crown.

Thirty-seven years and 20 league titles later, McCusker and the Panthers have done it again.

Porterville pushed past Granite Hills 11-5 at home Monday, clinching at least a share of the EYL championship.

“I’m very proud of this group of young men,” McCusker said. “They’ve come a long way.”

Porterville set the bar high early. The Panthers captured five of six first-round matches.

Willy Woodmansee (7-5), Carlos Meraz (6-4), Jade Perry-C.J. Cobarruvias (6-2), Nick Galusha-Adrian Vidrio (6-2) and Jeremy Eggman-Brogan Nordness (6-4) all found themselves on the winning end.

Will Neel provided the Grizzlies (13-6-1, 7-4-1 EYL) with their lone victory in Round 1, defeating Andrew Chung 7-5.

“When you look at our matches, even today’s,” McCusker said, “there are a lot that seem to go our way each time.”

It’s these tight matches Grizzlies coach Randy Smee hopes to swing in his team’s favor soon.

“We had so many 0s and 1s last time against them,” he said. “Today, they were 2s, 3s and 4s. That’s telling me we’re competing. That’s the first step. The second step is to flip those around.”

Porterville sewed up at least a tie in the second round by moving ahead 9-3.

Meraz (6-0), Jade Perry-Cobarruvias (6-0) and Nordness-Eggman (6-1) all came out on top for the Panthers (21-2, 11-0 EYL).

Anthony Tiernan won 6-2 while Ben Jetter-Majid Hassan subdued Galusha-Vidrio 6-4.

A seesaw battle occurred with Woodmansee and Tom Yang going head to head at No. 1 singles.

Woodmansee fashioned a 5-1 lead before his junior opponent knotted the score at 5-apiece.

The two players split the next two sets, sending their match into a tie-breaking round.

Tied at 3-3, the Grizzly committed three unforced errors to grant Woodmansee a 6-3 advantage.

Two points later, Yang pushed a shot wide of the baseline, which handed Woodmansee a 7-6 win.

“Even though I lost that match,” Yang said, “I still won. I got my goal. I had to push myself to the limit, and it worked out.”

In the final round of singles, Perry (6-2) and Cobarruvias (6-1) both triumphed. Hassan beat Nordness 7-6 (8-6).

Woodmansee-Meraz teamed to win 7-6 and Matt Aquino-Eggman clutched a 6-4 victory. Anthony Tiernan-Neel cruised 6-2.

“I’m very pleased with how I played today,” Nordness said. “[Hassan] made me work for everything I got.”

Porterville will close its regular season at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday as it hosts cross-town rival Monache.

If the Marauders win, they will share the league title.

Granite Hills is finished until the EYL tournament, which begins Friday in Delano.

“These guys are mentally tough. They play tough in the clutch,” McCusker said. “Is it nature or nurture? I don’t know.”

-- Contact Alex K.W. Schultz at 784-5000, Ext. 1049 or aschultz@portervillerecorder.com.