Competition for high school girls tennis can begin under the CIF’s two-season sports calendar, but most schools in Santa Barbara County won’t be playing for a few weeks, as they’re just starting to form their teams and do conditioning workouts.
“Carpinteria tennis just put their feet on the courts for the first time (Monday), as we had our player walk-through day, going over safety protocols and the new ground rules of what is expected of both players and coaches,” said coach Charles Bryant.
Bryant said Phase 1 conditioning (no equipment) would start Tuesday, and should last two weeks before graduating to Phase 2 for two weeks. His hope is the Warriors can then play matches.
Abe Jahadhmy, the athletic director at San Marcos, said the Royals are planning to play their first match on March 31, with the possibility of getting in a scrimmage beforehand.
“We are hoping to play a scrimmage with Santa Barbara next week, if we get the safety plan approved,” he said.
“Tennis will look to get started with matches in the next few weeks,” said Santa Barbara High Athletic Director Todd Heil.
Cate Athletic Director Wade Ransom said he expects the Rams will start playing in April “once our students clear their travel quarantines and we resume in-person learning following spring break.”
Cate is a boarding school that draws students from all over the world.
Private schools Laguna Blanca and Bishop Diego are working out plans for playing tennis this spring.
Schools have some time to get in a season, as the CIF calendar’s last allowable date for competition is May 8.
“We are still trying to figure it all out,” said Laguna Blanca Athletic Director Jason Donnelly of putting together a girls tennis season.
The Laguna girls started training on Monday.
“I’m not sure about our schedule yet, as we are looking at all of the options,” said Donnelly.
Bryant said scheduling might be tricky for Carpinteria because it competes in a league (Citrus Coast) that consists of five schools from Ventura County (Nordhoff, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Hueneme) and one from L.A. County (Malibu).
Ventura County currently is not permitting competition against schools outside its border. Also, under state rules, schools from non-bordering counties are not allowed to compete against each other.
If Carpinteria can’t play its league opponents, Bryant hopes the Warriors can get matches against other schools in Santa Barbara County.
“Time will tell,” he said.
The competition issue in the Citrus Coast League is affecting the Carpinteria cross country program.
Athletic Director Pat Cooney said Carpinteria couldn’t compete in a league cross country time trial last weekend due to an order by the Ventura County health officer prohibiting any competitions between bordering counties to occur at this time.
“Coach Angel Silva served as a course monitor at the CCL event on Saturday at Nordhoff High School, but no Carpinteria Warriors were there,” said Cooney. “Instead, CHS cross country athletes ran the home course at Viola Fields.
“We are hoping that the new guidelines sway officials at VCPH, and that they allow Carpinteria to join in the action this Saturday at Fillmore.”
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.