Young Panthers overpower Mustangs

Though experience is typically the time-tested advantage when it comes to athletics, sometimes all you need is an abundance of talent.

Against Tulare Western in Monday’s East Yosemite League-opening match, Porterville boys’ tennis had both.

The Panthers held a 7-1 lead as the last match of the day — a battle between the No. 1 doubles duos of Porterville’s Chai Yang and Patrick Lewis and Western’s Manuel Wiechmann and Matt Sepeda — ended in a 5-5 tie as rain began to pour down.

The win marked Porterville’s fifth of the year after going 4-3 in preseason play.

Panthers coach Kurt Nielsen, in his first season replacing the previous coach of 38 years, Pat McCusker, is still getting a feel for what his boys are capable of, but he likes what he sees thus far.

“We have a very young team,” he said. “But these boys work hard and they’re growing and improving in each match.”

Perhaps the one who’s made the most improvement is current No. 1 singles player Yang. As a sophomore one year ago, Yang sat at No. 10 on the Panthers’ senior-heavy depth chart.

But all those seniors’ departures paved the way for Yang to move quickly up the ranks after a summer in which he stuffed the calendar with tournament appearances across the state.

“I’d stay wherever I could in different cities — with my Grandma in Fresno or crash at a friend’s house somewhere,” said the Crescent City native. “I just wanted to get as much experience as I could.”

Fast forward to Monday, when Yang dismantled the Mustangs’ No. 1 option, Wiechmann, rather easily, 6-3, 6-1.

“Chai has an all-around game,” Nielsen said of the junior. “He’s worked hard on his serving and I think he can be better than any of last year’s seniors.”

A bold statement considering All-EYL caliber seniors Jeremy Eggman and CJ Cobarruvias paced the Panthers to a 12-0 season in 2009.

After a few of his own errors set Yang back three games in the first set, the junior picked up on Wiechmann’s soft backhand swing.

“I just started hitting it to his backhand every time,” Yang said. “And when I pulled ahead far enough, I started playing close to the net.”

Yang improved his personal record to 6-2 on the season.

Porterville’s No. 2 singles player, Lewis, took care of the Mustangs’ Michael Bell, 6-2, 6-2.

“Patrick has a high tennis IQ,” Nielsen said of the sophomore. “He’s not a great athlete, but he’s got a classic stroke.”

Sophomore Robert Lanning defeated Ryan Avila, 6-2, 6-1, from the third spot in the lineup while No. 4 Johnny Nieto beat Western’s Chris Avila by the same score.

No. 5 Mitch Walters needed an extra set to pull away from Sepeda, finishing 6-2, 4-6 and 10-6 in the super breaker. The sophomore’s win clinched the fifth victory for Porterville, which ensured the team match.

Amnider Dhaliwal made it a Panthers sweep in all six singles spots as he defeated Boss Povieng, 6-4, 6-2.

The rain drenched the players as both coaches decided to continue with doubles play in a one-set, eight-point format.

Porterville’s Vince Catalina and Nieto quickly finished by dispatching Povieng and Derek Avila, 8-1.

Lanning and Josh Martinez picked up the Panthers’ only loss — a 3-8 decision to the Mustangs’ Bell and Christian Hoffman.

Porterville will take a bye on Wednesday before competing in the Visalia Invitational this Friday and Saturday.