Welcome to Trojan Thursday – So what exactly is Trojan Thursday? Trojan Thursday is a weekly email/online blog to give the UNI community an update on what is happening with our UNI athletic teams and will also give information as to major events that are happening on campus. If you would like to receive Trojan Thursday each week please go to https://unitrojanthursday.wordpress.com and type in your email address. You will receive a notice each week when Trojan Thursday is posted. Please help spread the word about Trojan Thursday so everyone can hear how our athletes are doing.
Tennis News
Congratulations to our Girls Tennis players, Cami Brown (OC Tennis Player of the Year), Jane Lee, Emily Markus and Mya Wang for making the First Team “All Orange County Tennis Team”! And Congratulations to Kamar Alajeely and Jackie Yoon for making 2nd Team All-County!
University’s Cami Brown is the 2018 Orange County girls tennis player of the year
University’s Cami Brown is the Register’s 2018 All-County girls tennis Athlete of the Year. Photographed at University High in Irvine on Thursday, December 20, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG) By DAN ALBANO | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register PUBLISHED
By DAN ALBANO | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: December 27, 2018 at 5:21 pm | UPDATED: January 3, 2019 at 3:04 pm
IRVINE >> University High tennis player Cami Brown showed flashes late in the fall of 2017 that a special 2018 season could be ahead.
The then-sophomore upset senior Danielle Willson of Corona del Mar, an eventual two-time Register player of the year and now nationally-ranked freshman at USC, in the CIF-SS Division 1 team final.
Brown proved this fall that the victory was indeed prophetic as she continued her rise.
The 5-foot-7, baseline specialist captured the Pacific Coast League singles title for her first individual league crown and advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS individual tournament. She also helped power Coach John Kessler’s top-ranked University team to the finals of the inaugural CIF-SS Open Division team final.
For her efforts, Brown is The Register’s 2018 girls tennis player of the year.
“Besides the last round of CIF, the whole season was really good,” Brown said. “There was a lot of competition from Campbell Hall and Corona del Mar … and it just made me have to step up.”
Brown lost 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the second round of the CIF-SS individual tournament to Georgetown signee Chloe Bendetti of Oaks Christian but finished undefeated against Orange County opponents.
The Trojans lost 11-7 in the finals of the Open Division to Campbell Hall but Brown won two of her three singles matches as University’s No. 1 singles player. She earned match point against senior Dominique Stone – whom she has never beaten – before falling 7-6 (4) in a tie-breaker.
In a victory in the Open Division semifinals against Corona del Mar, Brown edged UC Davis-bound Kristina Evloeva 7-6 for a key triumph en route to a sweep at singles, her second of the fall against the 2017 CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State SoCal champion.
Brown attributed her rise to improved confidence. She drew strength from recent success on the USTA circuit and from her high school teammates, including standout freshman Jane Lee.
“This year, since we were less the underdogs, I had more belief in myself,” Brown said. “Our team was just steamrolling other teams and I was having easier matches and then I had Jane, who also was winning easily. It helps when there is more than one singles player (to carry the load).”
Kessler also saw Brown’s mental game strengthen. He said his singles ace continued to work on the balance of winning the matches she should while also trying to knock off the opposition’s top players.
“Equally mentally exhausting,” the veteran coach said. “We are most proud of her how she has learned to deal with (the challenges).”
Brown also continued train outside of high school tennis. She practices with Advantage Tennis Academy at Racquet Club of Irvine, where her step-father, Scott Spearman, is the general manager.
“I’m there literally every day,” said Brown, who maintains a 3.6 grade-point average. “I love tennis.”
And if Brown ever needs extra practice, she could play against her brother, Conrad, a standout freshman tennis player at University.
“Conrad beats me,” she said with a smile. “When we were 14 and 13, I would usually win but he caught up.”
All-Orange County girls tennis 2018: First Team and Second Team
The Register’s 2018 All-County girls tennis team is made up of Dana Hills’ Courtney Swift, Dana Hills’ Drae Fresenius, Corona Del Mar’s Roxy MacKenzie, Corona Del Mar’s Kristina Evloeva, Player of the Year University’s Cami Brown, University’s Jane Lee, University’s Emily Markus, University’s Mya Wang, Troy’s Jenna Sabile and Coach of the Year Huntington Beach’s Suzanne DeVries, from left. Photographed on the tennis courts at University High in Irvine on Thursday, December 20, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By DAN ALBANO | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: December 27, 2018 at 5:22 pm | UPDATED: December 28, 2018 at 1:14 pm(Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
FIRST TEAM ALL-COUNTY
Singles
Cami Brown, University, Jr. – Register player of the year
Jane Lee, University, Fr.
Lee burst onto the O.C. scene by finishing as the Pacific Coast League runner-up to Cami Brown and advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS individual tournament.
Jenna Sabile, Troy, So.
In her first season playing for the Warriors, the Freeway League champion made a run to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS individual tournament, where she fell to eventual champion Eryn Cayetano of St. Anthony. Sabile credited her sister, Julianna, a senior, for guiding her through the season.
Doubles
Kristina Evloeva, Sr., Roxy MacKenzie, Sr., Corona del Mar
The duo usually played singles but combined their talents to capture the Surf League doubles title and advance to the semifinals of the CIF-SS individual tournament. “We just wanted to go have fun,” Evloeva said of CIF, “especially with us being close friends. … We didn’t put too many expectations on ourselves.” MacKenzie recently committed to Butler while Evloeva is headed to UC Davis.
Drae Fresenius, Sr., Courtney Swift, Sr., Dana Hills
Fresenius, a San Jose State-bound volleyball setter, played tennis and volleyball in the spring and teamed with the Air Force-bound Swift just before the South Coast League finals. The close friends won the league doubles title and reached the second round of the CIF-SS individual tournament before falling to the eventual champion from Arcadia. “She’s really impressive to balance all of (her sports),” Swift said of Fresenius. Swift finished her career with three South Coast League individual titles – one in singles and two in doubles. The duo also helped the Dolphins earn a share of the league team title and finish as the CIF-SS Division 1 runner-up.
Emily Markus, So., Mya Wang, So., University
The sophomore duo won the Pacific Coast League title and went undefeated against Orange County foes. They reached the second round of the CIF-SS individual tournament and helped the Trojans finish as the CIF Open Division runner-up.
SECOND TEAM ALL-COUNTY
Singles
Janie Marcus, Corona del Mar, Sr.
Kaia Wolfe, San Juan Hills, Fr.
Michelle Zell, Foothill, Jr.
Doubles
Kamar Alajeely, Sr., Jackie Yoon, Jr., University
Colby Bennett, So., Natasha Hill, Jr., Mater Dei
Hannah Jervis, So., Reece Kenerson, So., Corona del Mar
Frances Kroll, Sr., Michelle Kroll, Sr., Northwood
Upcoming Try-outs
Athletes must have “Cleared” status for the 2018-19 school year on www.athleticclearance.com in order to participate in try-outs. Attend all dates listed unless otherwise stated.
Boys Tennis: Monday, Jan. 17, after school at the tennis courts
Winter Sports Update
Check out this link to the Sports Section of the Sword & Shield for sports articles written by Uni Students:
https://uhsswordandshield.com/category/sword-and-shield-2/sports/
Boys Basketball
Tomorrow night the Boys Basketball team travels to Woodbridge to take on the Warriors. The Trojans defeated Woodbridge 82-57 earlier in the season. Tip-off is at seven. On Tuesday, the Trojans fell to Portola in a close game. Over Christmas break, Uni went 2-2 at the Tustin Tournament. During the tournament, the Trojans defeated Long Beach Millikan with a great comeback victory. Guards Kody Uyesugi and Andrea Roy continue to be among the three point shooting leaders in the county.
Girls Basketball
The Lady Trojan basketball team is off to a fantastic start in league play going 3-0. Tuesday night the girls beat Portola with Malia Goldsmith having 14 points and 8 assists in her return after being out for three weeks. Aryn Press added 14 points as well. They will take on Woodbridge Friday at 530 at Woodbridge.
Boys Soccer
Boys soccer moved to 8-1-2 on the year with a 5-0 win yesterday against Portola.
Pedro Palmaka scored two goals, taking his total to 10 on the year. Other goal scorers were Lee McEligot, Aydin Abdollahi and Dhanvi Desu. Assists by Pedro Palmaka, Aydin Abdollahi, Rohit Chawla, Mahziar Sakiani, Andrew Jang. Shutout by Sean Salah, his 7th of the year. Come out and support the team this afternoon (Jan. 10) as the boys take on the Woodbridge Warriors at home. All games start at 3:15pm.
Girls Soccer
Tuesday girls took on Portola and took the win 2-0. Our next game is this Thursday away against Woodbridge at 5pm. Head over to Woodbridge and support the girls as we take on our biggest rival!
Girls Water Polo
The University Varsity water polo team are half way through one of the best years they have had in a very long time. Currently they are 4-0 in league, and have a really BIG game against Woodbridge today (Jan. 10).
The Ladies opened up with an Away victory over Irvine and then two home game wins against Irvine again, and Northwood. This week, they beat Portola.
The Ladies are getting noticed by the CIF polls, and have locked in 7th place out of the entire Division 4 teams. The team is really strong because our girls are very committed to the team. They spend extra time in the water and attend nearly every practice. The team strength is from the number of girls all putting forth the effort to succeed.
Wrestling
The last league wrestling match is next Wednesday, Jan. 16th at home. Come out and support the team as they take on Beckman. Wrestling starts at 5:00 p.m.
Here is a look at this week’s UNI Athletics events
(Home events in Blue)
Winter GOW Schedule
12/5: Wrestling v Northwood – 5:00 p.m.
12/8: Cheer – Time TBA
12/11 Girls Soccer v Orange Lutheran – 3:15 p.m.
1/15: Girls Water Polo v Beckman – 4:00 p.m.
1/25: Boys Soccer v Irvine – 5:00 p.m.
1/31: Pack the Gym Night! Girls Basketball v Woodbridge – 5:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball v Woodbridge – 7:00 p.m.
GO TROJANS!
