The Fullerton Tennis Patrons hosted its 65th annual designated tournament in February, accepting 1,144 player entries to make it the biggest tournament ever held by them. The tournament drew some of Santa Barbara’s finest junior players including Ryan Peus, Spencer Simon, Lauren Stratman, and Rachel Decker-Sadowski.
Ryan Peus, the No. 1 seed in the girls 12-and-under division, reached the quarterfinals after taking out the No. 9-seed Ena Shibahara of Rancho Palos Verdes in a close three-set match, 3-6, 7-6,10-5.
After Peus’ victory streak, she fell to rival Dominique Schaefer of Oxnard in yet another three-set match, 6-0, 2-6, 10-6. Schaefer continued to move through the tournament, before losing in the semifinals to Ladera Ranch’s Parris Todd.
In doubles, Peus teamed up with Todd. The duo was the No. 2 seed in its draw, but the pair fell to the unseeded team of Kelsie Bryant and Sofia Whittle 2-6, 6-1, 10-8.
While Peus may not have achieved the results she was hoping for in Fullerton, her success does not stop there. She has taken second place in her last three tournaments: the Copper Bowl, Whittier designated, and the USTA girls 12’s National event in Claremont.
Lauren Stratman and Spencer Simon had similar results to that of Peus. Stratman breezed through her first four rounds, only dropping ten games total, before falling to Dorothy Tang in the quarterfinals 7-6, 6-4. Simon also cruised through his first four rounds before losing to Sahak Bazrganian 6-7, 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinals as well.
Rachel Decker-Sadowski, the No. 17 seed in the girls 18s, moved through her first two rounds quickly, taking out one of her good friends, Jessica Parizher, 6-2, 6-4, in the process.
“The score was closer than I wanted, but I felt like I was in control of the match the whole time,” said Decker-Sadowski. “I came into net several times, and took balls out of the air, and I think that put a lot of pressure on her.”
In the following round, Decker-Sadowski fell to No. 2 nationally ranked Mayo Hibi of Irvine 6-2, 6-2. Hibi went on to lose in her next match in the semifinals to Lorraine Guillermo, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Despite more delays due to rain, Guillermo took out the No 1. seed Lacey Smyth, two weeks later, in straight sets to win the girls 18s title, 6-3, 6-3.
