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Published August 20, 2008
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Standing Tall on the Tennis Courts
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| By Jack Fernbacher |
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| Andrew Pises Photo provided |
Miramonte tennis standout Andrew Pises is only fourteen years old, but is playing in the most competitive tournaments in California in the sixteen-year-old bracket. Pises, who played as Miramonte’s number one singles player as a freshman, is ranked 120 in the fourteen-year-old division in the country.
“Competing in the sixteen year old bracket gives me more of a challenge in tournaments,” says Pises. “My game improves a lot more when I play against better players.” Pises is trying to improve his game this summer, so that he can help out his Miramonte team. Miramonte lost to Campolindo this past season to pick up their only loss and Pises doesn’t want that to happen next year.
“Both teams are losing some seniors, but our team has a lot of young talent and we will improve a lot going into our next season,” says Pises. “We are really looking forward to the match next year to show everyone how much we have improved.”
Pises has been working hard on his game this summer to step up his level of play. Andrew’s brother Mark Pises, who graduated in 2007, has helped Andrew with his strokes. “I have been hitting a lot of balls with Mark this summer, which has helped me develop my groundstrokes,” says Pises. “I also have been working on fitness by going on bike rides and lifting weights to improve my endurance.” Pises has also played in a grueling schedule of tournaments. Pises’ most recent tournament was the Union City Open. Pises took first place without dropping a set in the four rounds of the boys’ 16 singles bracket. Pises has won three tournaments this summer and has had a lot of experience playing tournaments already at the age of fourteen.
“I started playing tennis when I was three and started playing in competitive tournaments when I was 10,” says Pises. Pises has definitely learned from his experiences playing in tournaments as he has won four out of four Boy’s 16’s tournaments this summer. Pises went 10-1 last season in DFAL play and his only loss came against a senior who graduated this year. “I hope to go undefeated in the DFAL and want another chance to beat Campolindo,” says Pises. Pises still has three more years of tennis competition in the DFAL and will play his rival high school Campolindo in the years to come. |
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| Reach Jackat: info@lamorindaweekly.com |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA