Lenaway pleased with Warrior boys tennis season

Fallbrook High School boys tennis coach Bill Lenaway had to cope with player injury and illness as the Warriors finished their 2011 season, but he was pleased with the results despite some early exits from post-season tournaments.

“I was satisfied with the season. The kids worked hard, they were very dedicated, and they did a good job,” Lenaway said. “I think they played to their potential.”

Fallbrook’s 12-5 regular-season record included a 9-1 figure in Avocado East League matches which earned a share of the league championship. The Warriors split their two matches with San Pasqual, the other co-champion.

The final regular-season result, however, was a non-league loss to Rancho Buena Vista on a May 4 makeup date. Fallbrook competed without #1 singles player Sho Adachi, who was rested to heal a shoulder injury, and without an ill Stuart Henderson, who comprised half of the Warriors’ #1 doubles team.

Fallbrook was seeded seventh in the CIF Division I playoffs and had a first-round home match May 10 against tenth-seeded Otay Ranch, which advanced to the quarterfinals with an 11-7 victory over the Warriors. “I knew the team we were playing was going to be solid, but Sho was still not healthy,” Lenaway said.

Adachi injured his shoulder during the final week of the league season. “He did what he could to get through the season,” Lenaway said.

Lenaway utilized Adachi as the #3 singles player against Otay Ranch, giving him an initial set against the Mustangs’ #3 player. “He wanted to be there for his teammates,” Lenaway said.

Adachi won that set but then came off the court. “He did everything he could for the team,” Lenaway said. “He’s real determined and did a good job for us.”

Henderson did not play in the CIF match against the Mustangs.

The Avocado East League singles and doubles tournaments were the following week. Adachi lost in the semifinals before settling for fourth place in the tournament. Henderson and Tyler Ocheltree placed third among doubles teams.

“I think we played the way we should,” Lenaway said.

The CIF individual tournament at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego began May 23. Adachi had a first-round match against Andrew Paiva of Christian. Adachi won the first set by a 6-2 score, and after he had a 3-0 lead in the second set he tapped his shoulder to indicate the discomfort there. Adachi played and won the next two games to take a 5-0 lead in the second set before retiring. “Did the classy thing and let the other kid go on and play,” Lenaway said.

Adachi, who was one of six seniors on Fallbrook’s team, plans to play at Palomar College next year if he is healthy.

The second singles round of the CIF tournament was also played May 23. The first doubles round was May 24; Henderson and Ocheltree opened with a match against Poway’s Jacob Neuenswander and Willie Van Den Heuvel. The two Titans took a 6-1 victory in the first set, Henderson and Ocheltree evened the match with a 6-4 triumph in the second set, and Neuenswander and Van Den Heuvel advanced to the second round after a 6-4 win in the third set.

Henderson is a senior and Ocheltree is a junior. Fallbrook’s other seniors were Dylan Dawkins, Matt Jacobs, Bo Lundqvist, and Evan Nagata.

The league’s coaches gave Adachi and Henderson first-team Avocado East League status while naming Ocheltree, Jacobs, Nagata, and junior Sam Cunningham to the league’s second team.