CIF-SS boys tennis: University, San Clemente play in the finals Friday

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CIF-SS BOYS TEAM TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

FRIDAY

DIVISION 1

University (19-3) vs. Harvard-Westlake (17-3) at University of Redlands, 3:15 p.m.

Outlook: It’s a clash of rivals and possibly the last section final for 13-time championship coach John Kessler of University, who is considering retiring. No. 2-seeded University has claimed the past four top division titles in the Southern Section, including a 10-8 win against Harvard-Westlake last season. No. 4-seeded Harvard-Westlake was the last school other than University to claim the premier division in the section. The Wolverines beat University in the finals in ’21. The schools are colliding in a boys section finale for the sixth time since Kessler took the reigns at University in 2002. The Trojans lead the series 4-1.

University, the two-time defending state champion, has retooled after graduating five starters. The team claimed its 20th consecutive Pacific Coast League title and avenged a nonleague loss against Corona del Mar by winning in a super tiebreaker late in the regular season. The Trojans are led by junior JiHyuk Im and the doubles team of Langston Walter-Wu and Daniel Zhu. Im lost in the semifinals at the Ojai tournament to eventual champion Matteo Huarte of Mater Dei, a USC commit. Walter-Wu and Zhu advanced to the quarterfinals in Ojai. Harvard-Westlake’s Aaron Chung and Chase Klugo finished as the runner-up in doubles.

In the semifinals, Harvard-Westlake beat top-seeded Corona del Mar 10-8.

DIVISION 5

San Clemente (12-8) vs. San Marcos (9-9) at The Claremont Club, 1:30 p.m.

Outlook: The Tritons earned an at-large berth from the challenging South Coast League, which included Division 1 selection Beckman. San Clemente, under fourth-year coach Gary Greenberg, has reached the finals for the first time since its runner-up finish to Santa Margarita in Division 2 in 2015. The Tritons defeated visiting San Marcos 10-8 in a nonleague match in mid-April. San Clemente is led seniors Ryan Bautista and Beck Nichol at doubles and Braeden Banville, Grant Call and Gleb Kauhanka at singles. San Marcos took third in the Channel League, which included Division 4 finalist Dos Pueblos.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 1:25 PM.