Point Loma High School (PLHS) players dominated Eastern League boys’ tennis this season, winning both team and individual titles. In team matches, the Pointers posted marks of 16-3 overall and 12-1 in league. After tying with Serra for the league title, the Pointers dispatched the Conquistadors 12-6 in a tie-breaking match played at neutral Barnes Tennis Center. Following the match, PLHS was declared league champion and awarded a No. 5 seed and first-round home match in CIF team playoffs last month. The Pointers devastated San Marcos 16-2 in that home match at Peninsula Tennis Center. The next day, however, the team traveled to No. 3 seed Steele Canyon, where the team’s post-season was ended in a 10-8 loss. Fiery top Pointer singles player Dominic Gareri and the No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Avery Cramer and Kasey Dring swept their matches with mixed results from the No. 2 players. The Cougars, however, swept the Pointers in No. 3 singles and doubles to escape with the victory. Later in Eastern League individual competition, Gareri ended up playing teammate Axel Cramer for the singles title. After Cramer took the first set by a 6-1 margin, Gareri prevailed in the next two sets by scores of 7-5 and 7-6. The two friends battled for nearly three hours, leaving both exhausted. Teammate Alec Deryckere reached the singles consolation finals before losing to an opponent from Serra. In doubles, Avery Cramer and Dring upset the No. 1 seeded Serra team by scores of 6-2, 6-2. For Cramer, this marks his second consecutive league title after teaming last year with Nathaniel Johnson. Finally, in CIF individual play, Gareri and Axel Cramer won first-round matches but Deryckere lost his match to an opponent from La Jolla Contry Day. Gareri’s season then came to an end when a Francis Parker player defeated him 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. Axel Cramer lost to a Westview player by scores of 6-4, 6-3. In doubles, Avery Cramer and Dring dropped their match to an experienced Rancho Bernardo pair to close out the season. SAILING The Pointers lost their national team championship in a Baker Cup event last month that left many participants feeling frustrated. Hosted May 20-22 by the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club in Virginia, the racing course was hampered by periods of calm winds that forced postponement and/or cancellation of some races. The official Day 2 event chart shows 24 blank results for scheduled races. Six of these involved Point Loma. Because of already-scheduled return flights, results of the limited races were declared final on Sunday afternoon. The Pointers finished fourth of the 12 schools who qualified for the event. First place went to Tabor Academy, a private prep school in Marion, Mass. Second place went to Newport Harbor High School, while third place was awarded to The Hotchkiss School, another private prep school in Lakeville, Conn. BOYS’ SWIMMING Freshman sensation Jason O’Brien recorded a 500M freestyle time of 4:31.85. The mark qualifies him for All-American consideration.
