Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Niels Hoffmann found redemption. Caden and Tyler Lee discovered history as brothers.
Orange County again swept the singles and doubles championships at the Ojai Tennis Tournament but did so Saturday with a few plot twists.
Hoffmann, a senior at Corona del Mar, claimed the CIF boys singles title at Libbey Park one season after finishing as the tournament runner-up.
His redemption after defeating Lorenzo Brunkow of Palisades 6-1, 6-3 in the final included hoisting a trophy that twice eluded his brother Bjorn. In 2015 and 2016, Bjorn finished second in singles for Corona del Mar.
Yes, vindication was on Hoffmann’s mind Saturday at the 122nd edition of the prestigious event.
“Definitely,” the USC signee said in a text message from Ojai. “(Redemption) was a motivating factor for sure. Super stoked to have done it.”
“It’s such a historical tournament, and I’m happy to have been a part of its legacy,” he added.
Seeded first, Hoffmann survived a scare in the Round of 16 on Friday before getting on a major roll. After rallying for a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win against University freshman Rishvanth Krishna, he didn’t drop another set. Krishna held match-point in the third set against Hoffmann.
Hoffmann defeated a UC Santa Barbara commit in Brunkow.
“Niels played with extreme confidence today,” Corona del Mar coach Jamie Gresh said. “He served and returned well. His exceptional movement was on full display as he covered the court and played great all-court tennis.”
Beckman’s Lee bothers, also seeded first, became the second consecutive set of O.C. brothers to capture the CIF boys doubles crown in Ojai. Caden, a junior, and Tyler, a freshman, defeated Caleb Settles and Mateen Ghafarshad of Claremont 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
The Lee brothers only dropped one set in the tournament as they followed Woodbridge’s Tallakson brothers as double champions.
“It’s one thing to win it with your partner representing your school and team but to do it with your brother takes it up a couple notches,” Beckman coach Nick Friendt said of the Lee brothers. “(It’s) a brotherhood shared moment.”
Saturday marked the third consecutive year O.C. boys tennis swept the singles and doubles titles at Ojai.
Hoffmann’s victory also helped Corona del Mar secure the team championship, snapping a three-tournament run by University. He became the first Corona del Mar player to capture Ojai since Mike Briggs in 1987.
The Lee brothers delivered Beckman its first title at Ojai.
