KELSEYVILLE — If there”s one word that sums up Florian Kelder”s come-from-behind, nothing-left-to-give 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over Miguel Orozco of St. Vincent High School on Friday in the boys” singles finals of the Coastal Mountain Conference Tennis Championships at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, it might be wonderful.
Or as Kelder, Kelseyville High School”s German foreign exchange student, might say in his native tongue, wunderbar.
“What a match,” Kelseyville coach Jeff McLaren said of the nearly two-hour final, one that Kelder had trouble finishing because of leg cramps following a grueling first two sets.
“We were pumping water and bananas into him,” McLaren said. “And the Rincon Valley trainer even worked on him during an injury timeout.”
Orozco, the defending CMC singles champion, also shared salt tablets with his opponent, according to McLaren.
“What does that tell you about him?” McLaren said of Orozco. “He”s a very nice young man, a real gentleman on and off the court. Both of those guys left it all on the court. They were pretty tired when it was over.”
Orozco survived another grueling three-setter just to reach the finals. He beat another German foreign exchange student, David Schumacher of Cloverdale, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals, a match that took nearly 2 ? hours to complete.
“He was on the court all day,” McLaren said of Orozco.
Kelder had a much easier time of it in the semifinals, beating Warren Lewis of Mendocino 6-1, 6-2.
The finals were an entirely different story as Kelder and Orozco pounded the ball at each other for three full sets.
“He could hardly make it off the court. We had to pour him into the van,” McLaren said of Kelder.
Both players received a standing ovation from spectators when the match ended.
“It was a nice moment,” McLaren said.
Kelder”s victory capped a fabulous day for Kelseyville, which also won the boys” doubles title. In fact, both of the doubles teams to reach the finals were from Kelseyville.
Stuart Davy and Luke Kriken came away with the championship after beating teammates Evan Carpenter and Jon Don Kincannon 6-2, 6-7 (8-6), 6-1.
“I just told them (before the match), ?You guys did a great job this season, go out there and have some fun,”” McLaren said.
The only thing the Knights didn”t win was the overall CMC championship, which is determined by points earned in the boys” and girls” divisions at the two-day-long tournament.
“Rincon Valley beat us by a point,” McLaren said. “We just didn”t have enough girls (earning points).”
Girls
Stella Day of Anderson Valley beat Tia Viera of Fort Bragg 6-2, 6-1 to win the girls” singles title.
Day advanced to the finals with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) win over Rincon Valley Christian”s Erin Ferrarelli, while Viera beat Middletown”s Tasha Gibbs 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) to reach the finals.
In an all-Rincon Valley Christian girls” doubles championship, it was Mae Bartholow and Briana Fredericks beating teammates Mary Meihaus and Ali Van Zandt 6-2, 6-1.
Meihaus and Van Zandt defeated Middletown”s Zoe Everett and Jeanine Zolczynski in the semifinals 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
“I”m proud of all of them,” Middletown coach Marc Morita said of Gibbs, Everett and Zolczynski. “They didn”t give up after tough first sets. They fought all the way.”
