Tardy Pierce Tennis Team Loses Title Match

The Pierce College men’s tennis team was late for a very important date Wednesday afternoon--the final of the Southern California team regionals against Saddleback. And it cost the Brahmas any real shot at taking home a title.

The Western State Conference champions first showed up at Grossmont College for the match. Unfortunately, Saddleback--and match officials--were waiting at Morley Field in Balboa.

Pierce was 15 minutes late to Morley Field, by which time each of its players had been penalized three games--one each for every five minutes the team was tardy. After a five-minute warm-up, Pierce players started play in the first set trailing, 3-0.

“We had no time to warm up, no time to check the courts or anything,” said Jonathan Holiday, Pierce’s No. 5 singles player. “They got the choice of serve and every advantage you can think of.”

Saddleback, ranked No. 1 in the state and top-seeded in the regional, won five of the six singles matches. The doubles matches were not played.

Tony Cohen, playing No. 3 singles, registered Pierce’s only victory.

Bill Kearsley, Pierce’s No. 1 singles player, lost to Mark Hansen, 7-6, 6-3. Kearsley was 14-1 entering the match. Ed Peregrino, Saddleback’s No. 2 player, defeated Sang Kim, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.