By Ryan Franklin
Staff Writer
and Matt Wah
Staff Writer
Costa sophomore Maegan Manasse controlled the tennis courts with a record of 68-1 in this year’s season. With only one loss, Manasse proved she was one step above her competition.
“Every match was definitely a challenge. I think I just played competetively in all of them, which made it hard for my opponents to beat me,” Manasse said.
Manasse put together one of the greatest seasons in varsity girls tennis history for Mira Costa before losing a match for the first time in a over four months. On Dec. 3 at Seal Beach Country Club, Manasse lost in the semifinals of CIF individuals for her first match loss of the season.
Manasse, who went 63-0 throughout the regular season and 5-0 in additional singles play, lost to Mayo Hibi of Woodbridge by scores of 7-6 and 6-2.
With two sisters who played tennis before her, Manasse was expected to take up the sport.
“I started tennis when I was around four or five. It started out as a family thing, but the intensity changed when I played my first tournament when I was six years old. It was the first match I ever won,” Manasse said.
Under the training of personal coach Steve Whitehead, Manasse excelled on the court. A combination of determination, drive and Whitehead’s technical training helped her achieve early success in competetive tennis.
In the 10 and under age group, Manasse was ranked number one in Southern California. Currently, Manasse is ranked 17th in Southern California in her age group and 106th in the country.
“I always had fun with my coach because he is like a father to me,” Manasse said. “Even at a young age, the sport was really competitive because I always wanted to be at a higher level than everyone else I played with.”
In addition to winning the Bay League Singles title, Manasse and her doubles partner from Hope Chapel Academy, Sarah Gong, won the Southern California Doubles Sectionals, the biggest doubles tournament of the year. Gong, a junior, has been Manasse’s doubles partner since April of this year.
“We know how to keep each other relaxed, which is the key to our success,” Gong said. “We have a lot of fun and are a great team. Even though our last three matches in the tournament were very close, we pulled through and I’m proud of the way we held everything together.”
Manasse still has two more years to develop her game and compete in high school to the best of her ability. Costa girls tennis coach Joe Ciasulli looks forward to seeing her skills develop.
“Maegan is very special. It’s very rare that a player can win 68 matches in a row,” Ciasulli said. “She has worked very hard to improve, and her grasp of the game is very advanced for someone so young. She is a pleasure to have on the team because she doesn’t let her success get to her head.”
Despite the temptations to play other sports like soccer and basketball, Manasse has dedicated herself to tennis only, practicing every day and playing tournaments on the weekends.
Manasse ends her season with her head held high because of the tennis she played this season.
“I really like team sports but I will always choose tennis over everything and anything else. I have played the sport for so long it has become a part of who I am,” Manasse said.
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