Boys’ tennis: Clash of Division I titans should be worth the wait

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Don’t know about you, but I’m bummed that Thursday’s Division I nonleague clash between No. 5 Peninsula and No. 2 Harvard-Westlake was postponed because Wolverines Coach Chris Simpson and three of his players (including two starters) are sick.

When I called Simpson for the scoop he told me the match has been rescheduledfor April 21.

‘I’m on the CIF committee, I explained the situation to [Peninsula Coach] Mike Hoeger and he said he wanted to play us when we’re at full strength,’ Simpson said. ‘In addition to three starters, two of my back-ups are also sick, so we would’ve been really shorthanded.’

It would’ve been interesting to see if Harvard-Westlake’s Ryan Thacher (pictured) was in the lineup a day after losing to Switzerland’s Stephane Bohli, 6-4, 7-6(7) in the first round of qualifying for the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells. According to Simpson, Thacher is still recovering from blisters.

‘Ryan probably would’ve played if I had pushed him,’ Simpson said. ‘There’s just no reason to do that to a player with his talent.’

Thacher is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Boys 18s by the USTA. He’s also an exceptional student who has signed to play at Stanford. Let’s hope he’s healthy and ready to go when these perennial powers finally meet.

Finally, Coach Hoeger deserves high praise for agreeing to reschedule. Now that’s what I call sportsmanship!

-- Steve Galluzzo

-- Photo from LAT archives