Going the distance with Max Manthou was tough enough already.
Nowadays, that distance must seem even longer for whomever steps across the net from the Kentwood High sophomore tennis star.
At least a mile longer.
“I’ve always gotten by on talent, but I never went the extra mile,” said Manthou, the defending Class 4A state boys singles champion. “(Now), I’m trying to get more intensity with my play. I’ve been working pretty hard. I’m hitting with many more people now, I’m lifting (weights) every morning and still playing basketball.
“I’m focusing more on the future.”
Manthou’s immediate future includes a return to state. He sealed that deal very handily on Wednesday with a pair of victories in the West Central District tourney at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway. Manthou blitzed Chad Edmonds of Emerald Ridge in the first round, 6-0, 6-0, then did likewise to Kentridge sophomore Matt Overland in the quarterfinals.
That gave him a berth in Friday morning’s semifinals against Tahoma senior Dan Cotton (results unavailable) and a guaranteed trip south to Vancouver next weekend.
Kentwood coach Ingrid Bakke has noticed Manthou’s ramped-up efforts since the end of last fall’s boys season.
“Strengthwise, he’s just a different player,” Bakke said. “At this point, it’s a lot of a mental game. Once you know the strokes, it’s strategy and the mental part.”
Part of that mental approach is enjoying himself. Bakke has noticed that, too.
“He really wanted to play Matt (Overland),” Bakke said. “He came over to the fence after the first set and said, ‘This is fun.’ And that’s huge.”
Manthou figures he won’t have to look far to get an early taste of state. In the opposite semifinal at district are Puyallup senior Scott Sullivan and Bellarmine Prep senior Brian McPhee. Sullivan gave Manthou a run for it early in last year’s district final before falling, 6-4, 6-1. McPhee has won back-to-back state doubles titles, but is playing singles this year.
“Those are the two dudes,” Manthou said of his toughest potential competition. “Brian and Scott are pretty close. I don’t have a preference on who I’d rather play.”
One more time
Two Kentridge senior doubles teams will get to cap their careers in the Class 4A state tournament.
Zack AhYat and Luyang Gai, who have been state boys doubles runners-up the past two years, won both of their district matches on Wednesday to earn a return trip. Anna McIntosh and Chelsey White, who have won back-to-back SPSL North and overall SPSL girls doubles titles, swept their first two district matches – bouncing back from a first-set loss in the quarterfinals – to punch their ticket.
Kentwood’s girls doubles combo of Kendall Bielinski and Kelsey Hurter won their first-rounder in three sets, but lost in the quarterfinals. They remain alive for a state spot on the consolation side of the district bracket. Ditto for Conquerors teammates Breanna Esber and Alyssa Nagai, who won in the first round before going down in the quarters.
Kentridge’s Matt Overland and Garrett Ballou won their first-rounders before losing and the quarterfinals and are still in the consolation hunt.
Bouncing back with consolation wins after first-round losses were Kentwood’s Laura Araki in girls singles, Kentridge’s girls doubles combo of Jazmin AhYat and Kelsey Robson, and Kentlake’s girls doubles team of Heidi Weaver and Julie Williams.
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