By Ryan Erickson
Sports Editor
Junior Maegan Manasse became the first girls tennis player in Mira Costa history to win a CIF Individuals title on Dec. 2 when she beat Palm Desert High School’s Desirae Krawczyk.
Manasse, who finished her season with a record of 32-0, is the first girls tennis player from the South Bay to win a CIF Individuals title since 1994.
“It’s exciting to be able to win it all, be a CIF champion, and have the honor of being the first Mira Costa girl to win an individual title,” Manasse said. “This match and overall experience is something that I’ll remember forever.”
Manasse fell in a hole early in the match, losing the first set 7-5. She bounced back quickly, however, with a 7-6 win in the second set. Krawczyk, however, came down with a cramp in her leg before the third game ended and was unable to continue the match, giving Manasse the championship by default.
“I felt really bad for her [Krawczyk] because she played so well, but I was able to hang with her, and I felt like I was going to win the whole time,” Manasse said. “I’m really happy right now.”
Manasse believes that she owes Costa tennis coach Joe Ciasulli credit for much of her success this season. Ciasulli wasn’t surprised at the level of success she achieved this year.
“She plays her best tennis when she’s smiling,” Ciasulli said. “I’m here to help her relax, to keep her loose on the court. When she does that, she’s the best tennis player in Southern California.”
Manasse, who entered the championship match ranked seventh of 100 eligible girls 16 and under, was humbled by the support that she received during her run for the title from the people around her and credits them with helping her get to this point.
“I couldn’t have done this without the love and support of my parents, coaches, and teammates,” Manasse said. “I want to thank them for what they have helped me accomplish.”
Although Manasse will enjoy the feeling of being a champion for a while, Ciasulli maintains that she must always look forward to the next step of her development as a player.
“There are a lot of schools that are interested in Maegan, and with all the hard work she puts into her game, you can see why,” Ciasulli said. “We just need to continue the work.”
Leave a Reply