With defending league singles champion Gabe Rapoport leading the way along with six other lettermen returning to the court, the Malibu High boys tennis team has high hopes to contend for a league title and earn another trip to the Southern Section playoffs.
Malibu, ranked 10th in the latest CIF Division III poll, currently sports a 2-3 overall record and 1-2 mark in Tri-Valley League play. Last week, the Sharks suffered tough losses at the hands of league rivals Oak Park, 12-6, and Oaks Christian, 11-7.
First-year coach Todd Montgomery inherits a team with one of the best singles players in the area in addition to valuable experience and depth.
“I’m excited for the season because we have a good group of guys who are dedicated and who are talented,” Montgomery said. “Gabe will lead our singles unit while our doubles should be solid too. They work hard and are committed.”
Rapoport, 16, follows a lineage of Malibu tennis players who have been successful at the high school level and played collegiately. Daniel Moss (Pepperdine), Skyler Davis (Drexel), Doug Stewart (Virginia) and Leif Sunderland (UCLA) had wonderful careers at MHS and Rapoport has begun to earn his stripes as well.
The six-foot-two junior southpaw began the season with a bang, winning his first nine sets (seven sets by a score of 6-0, the other two at 6-1, 6-2) until losing his first set, 3-6, to Oak Park’s No. 1 singles player, David Goulak. Rapoport rebounded by winning his final two matches against the Eagles 6-2, 6-0 and all three matches versus Oaks Christian 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 to run his record to an outstanding 14-1.
“I love tennis and I just want to have a successful season with my teammates,” Rapoport said. “We have good returning players and some good freshmen who will help.”
Rapoport’s intensity and keen focus on the court have enabled him to thrive at a young age. He lost in the TVL singles championship during his freshman year to Oaks Christian’s Kevin Bodnar 6-3, 4-6, 13-11 but exacted revenge a year ago against Bodnar 1-6, 7-5, 10-7. The two high school stars are expected to meet again in May in a rubber match.
“Gabe just loves tennis. After matches, he will go to clinics and learn more,” Montgomery said. “He’s always around the game. He has matured into a fine tennis player.”
Stephen Handal will play No. 2 singles for Malibu. According to Montgomery, Handal is the “most athletic” player on the team, with tons of potential.
Handal is 8-7 overall after going 1-2 against both Oak Park and Oaks Christian. The senior captain wants to make his last season the best one yet.
“I’m definitely excited for the season. As captain, I like to help out at practice,” said Handal, who is the only senior on the team. “In previous years, we could have made them more intense to help the team come together and play well. I try to keep everything serious to help us play our best. I’m just looking forward to a good year.”
Sophomore Dillon Orion will complete the singles roster, playing in the third position.
The Sharks’ doubles teams will be led by the No. 1 duo of sophomores Harrison White and Jesse Weinstein. Freshman Griffin Finck and junior Michael Jacobson and the tandem of junior Jacob Droeger and freshman Khoi Prakasim form the other double teams for MHS.
Last season, Malibu finished in a tie for second place with Oak Park in the TVL behind league champion Oaks Christian.
Despite falling against the Sharks’ two biggest challenges in the league last week, Montgomery was optimistic about the team’s performances.
“I am very proud of our improvement in the way we played against Oaks Christian compared to how we played against Oak Park. Our players showed great fight and positive body language and emotions,” said Montgomery, who played tennis at Palos Verdes High School and then at the University of Oregon. “The team is really starting to come together. We are hitting our stride and will do everything to beat those two teams next time.”