Heritage boys tennis team storms into CIF semifinals

Photo credit: Kristi Jo Photography

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Continuing its tradition of postseason success, the boys tennis team at Heritage High School will play at home Wednesday afternoon in the CIF Division 5 semifinals.

The Patriots advanced through the first three rounds with victories over Rim of the World (16-2), Apple Valley (11-7), and Costa Mesa (11-7). Heritage, which won a CIF title in 2016, was runner-up in 2015 and twice lost in the quarterfinals, will host Foothill Tech of Ventura in a 3 p.m. match.

Playing in the largest division in the CIF Southern Section (132 teams), Heritage almost didn’t make the playoffs. Competing in the Ivy League – considered the toughest tennis league in the CIF Raincross Conference – the Patriots finished tied with Notre Dame for third place with a 3-5 record. Each team defeated the other by a 10-8 score during the regular season. The final tiebreaker was games won between the two teams. Heritage advanced to the playoffs based on an 11-game advantage.

“The reason we’ve done so well is the depth of character of the players,” said veteran coach Doug Fairchild. “They’re just an absolute joy to be around. The work hard, they practice on their own on the weekends … As much as I’ve been the same coach, they have become better players.”

Fairchild lost five of his nine starters from the 2020 team, which missed out on the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with the switching of roles and the development of last year’s sophomores and juniors, Heritage has made great strides this season. The Patriots entered the season seeded third in the division; Foothill Tech is seeded second.

The team’s No. 1 singles player is senior Jared Gutierrez, a three-year varsity starter. He was part of the No. 1 doubles team last year but made a successful transition this season. Gutierrez was the only Patriot player to sweep his three sets in Monday’s victory over Costa Mesa.

No. 2 singles player Jason Ruffy, a junior, won two of his three sets on Monday.

“Jason moved from doubles to singles in the playoffs,” Fairchild said. “He’s gone 7-2 in the playoffs after never having played singles in his life. He changed his whole game overnight.”

No. 3 singles player Angel Amaya, a senior and three-year varsity starter, won one of three sets on Monday.

Heritage’s No. 1 doubles team “has rocked all year long,” Fairchild said. It consists of senior Carlos Casillas and junior Benjamin Taylor. Fairchild said that pairing and No. 1 singles player Gutierrez “are two of the big reasons that day in and out, we’ve been successful.”

The No. 2 doubles team is made up of juniors Andrew Ramos and Remle Capati. They had never been paired together before the playoffs but have won seven of nine sets in the postseason.

“Our new No. 2 doubles combination has paid massive dividends in our playoff run,” Fairchild said.

Junior Jonathan Leonhardi and senior Kailoh Manisa make up the No, 3 doubles team. Fairchild said that had that team not defeated Notre Dame’s No. 1 doubles team in the teams’ second meeting, Heritage would’ve lost the tiebreaker and missed out on the playoffs.

Heritage even has a former Patriot tennis standout on the coaching staff. Tyler Baca, a graduate of Chico State, returned to his alma mater as assistant coach. He teamed with doubles partner Logan Dreese on Heritage’s 2016 CIF champion team. They were also teammates on the Patriots’ 2013 CIF championship football team.

“It was so tough last year when a senior-led team missed out on their last season,” Fairchild said. “But it’s amazing what these players have done in their absence.”