Globe-trotting Lajola captures Boys 16 Junior Sectional crown
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAIPAHU — Hawai'i junior tennis has gone global with an Iolani freshman playing tour guide.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
The elite used to make their way to the Mainland in search of serious competition after the state high school and U.S. Tennis Association Junior Sectional Championships. Dennis Lajola, who wintered in London, is on his way to Paris and the Czech Republic.
Heidi Kaloi, above, returns a shot to Chloe Bihag, below, in the Girls' 18 final of the USTA Junior Sectionals at Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Lajola's generation of bash brothers and sisters have missed none of his exploits.
"We have to bring it up a level," said Andy Narido, who fell to Lajola, 6-1, 6-1, in yesterday's Boys 16 Junior Sectional final at Central O'ahu Regional Park.
"Maybe Dennis has changed us," said Kamehameha freshman Brooke Doane, who won the Girls 14s, 6-4, 6-1, over Christie Pagatpatan. "I find myself hitting more."
Before he turned 14 in February, Lajola won the back draw of the Super National Winter Championships and was invited to join the Boys 14 National High Performance Team. He reached the final of the Teen Tennis Championships in England. Last month, he won all three of his matches at the Junior Davis Cup qualifier.
Lajola played up an age division in sectionals to try and earn ranking points for nationals, and still lost just eight games in five matches. That included the convincing victory over Narido, a Hilo High senior who gets to the net as fast as his furiously moving feet can take him.
The two had played tight matches in the past, but no one in Hawai'i has had their game dissected more in the past few months than Lajola. He and his father/coach Dado have taken every criticism as constructive, and worked Dennis' aggressive baseline game to infuriating near-perfection.
"He doesn't miss," Narido says.
LAJOLA
"Hits every target," Doane adds. "Dennis is really good for his age. A lot of people around here are like, 'Wow, he is so good' and he is."
Lajola caught the attention of national coaches — no small feat from an ocean away — with a gift for the game and willingness to work that backed up his stunning results. They have analyzed his strokes in exhaustive detail, tweaking his second serve, varying approach shots and enhancing his ability to win long points. They also reconstructed his workouts — all in the past few months.
"It's more like a pro level, it's all what the pros do. I came back with a new routine," Lajola says, then grins. "I'm teaching my dad now."
He is also helping Hawai'i.
"Just having him at our clinics raises the bar for kids," says Faye Maeshiro, the Hawai'i Pacific Section Director of Junior Tennis. "For players his age like Andy, just to have him there to hit against is extra. You don't normally get that kind of opponent in your workout. For younger ones, to see his work ethic is incredible. He is so focused on every point."
Yesterday's boys finals all featured the top two seeds. Brien Galon was the only No. 2 seed to win, capturing the Boys 10s. Top seeds won all the girls titles but one, as third-seeded Chloe Bihag upset top-seeded Heidi Kaloi. None of the girls second seeds reached the finals.
RESULTS
Boys
10: Championship — Brien Galon (2) def. Jake Moran (1) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 Third place — Michael Sharp def. William Chen 6-4, 7-5. Consolation ii Roman Kop def. Chas Okamoto 6-4, 6-2.
12: Championship — Spencer Choy (1) def. Kevin Caulfield (2) 6-0, 6-1. Third place — Brennan Yamamoto def. Austin Zito 6-4, 6-1. Consolation ii Erik Pang. def. Devin Anderson 6-3, 6-3.
14: Championship — Colin Fujishige (1) def. Skyler Tateishi (2) 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3. Third place — Alex Ching def. Riley Saito 6-0, 6-1. Consolation ii Austin Andres def. Keven Wong 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
16: Championship — Dennis Lajola (1) def. Andy Narido (2) 6-1, 6-1. Third place — Hyatt Bailey def. Brian Shin (withdraw-illness). Consolation ii Holden Ching def. Jordan Kukino 6-1, 6-0.
18: Championship — Robert Lim (1) def. Jamie Migia (2) 6-3, 6-1. Third place — Chris Iwamura def. Jonathan Farm 6-4, 7-5. Consolation ii Mark Ilagan def. Ryan Laws 6-3, 6-2.
Sportsmanship award — Ross Sugiyama
Jane Forester-Leong Scholar Athlete—Robert Lim
Girls
10: Championship — Kelsey Wo (1) def. Ceara Sumida 6-4, 6-1.
12: Championship — Mele Iongi (1) def. Kelsey Daguio (4) 6-4, 6-3. Third place — Allison Chen def. Mika Nakashige 6-1, 4-6, 6-0. Consolation ii Maddie Soule def. Kimberly Katada 6-4, 6-0.
14: Championship — Brooke Doane (1) def. Christie Pagatpatan (3)6-4, 6-1. Third place — Joelle Yamamoto def. Sara Yoshinage 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Consolation ii Jill Kappel def. Janelle Arita 6-4, 6-2.
16: Championship — Kalei Gora (1) def. Erin Katayama (4) 6-1, 6-0. Third place — Kelly Ann Nakamura def. Lisa Kawamoto 6-1, 7-6 (7-2). Consolation ii Lea Jorgenson def. Christina Klein 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
18: Championship — Chloe Bihag (3) def. Heidi Kaloi (1) 6-3, 7-5. Third place — Jessica Broadfoot def. Julienne Yamamoto 6-4, 6-3. Consolation ii Jenna Mezin def. Jessica Konrad 6-3, 6-1.
Sportsmanship award—Lauren Shin
