The aggression Josh Lorentzen uses to lead the El Diamante football team in the fall, he applies to overpower opponents on the tennis courts in the spring.
The Miners’ No. 1 singles player (and quarterback) is the Bee’s boys tennis Player of the Year for the second straight year after dominating area opponents throughout the season en route to a 30-1 record.
Despite spending a limited portion of the year focused on tennis — Lorentzen concentrates on football from the end of tennis season through December — the junior’s skill level was high enough to return him to the Central Section singles championship finals for the second straight year. Lorentzen retired after his legs cramped in the third set of the match against Stockdale’s Jeremy Quiroz. That was his lone loss of the season.
El Diamante coach Joe Harding said Lorentzen’s drive and work ethic make him stand out from others.
“He’s determined, he wants to be the best,” Harding said. “He’s willing to work and do whatever it takes to get there.”
El Diamante High's Josh Lorentzen is The Bee's boys tennis Player of the Year for 2009.
That strong mindset keeps him in matches and his physical strength puts him over the top. His powerful play usually keeps opposing players off balance.
“Whenever I’ve seen him play, the other player is always playing defense because Josh dictates the point,” Bullard boys tennis coach Mark Weatherly said. “He’s in control from the very beginning it seems like. Basically, he overpowers people.”
Lorentzen said his goal for next year is to win the valley title and earn a college scholarship for tennis.
About Josh Lorentzen
Vitals: El Diamante, junior
He’s qualified because: He captured his second straight Bee Player of the Year honor after finishing second in the Central Section boys individual singles championship. Lorentzen’s legs cramped on him in the third set of the finals against Stockdale High’s Jeremy Quiroz, causing Lorentzen to retire. That loss was his lone blemish of the season as he finished 30-1. In the Central Section Division II team championship, Lorentzen won his singles match and doubles match to lead the Miners to their second straight D-II title.
He said it: “First of all, he’s a great athlete. ... He’s built like the type of tennis player you’d want: big, strong, good footwork. He’s just an all-around athlete and his demeanor, he has a great demeanor for tennis. He’s an aggressive player, always in control of his emotions. He just has a very aggressive mindset and he can overpower people because of his strength.” — Bullard coach Mark Weatherly
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