SANGER – Matt Bedrosian is so good at tennis, he makes the sport look effortless. And Bedrosian’s talent and skills on the court have helped keep alive an Apaches’ run of dominance that would normally get a lot of attention in other sports.
At the recent County/Metro Athletic Conference (CMAC) 1 Tournament, Bedrosian’s phenomenal play helped guide Sanger towards an eighth consecutive conference championship with a 6-3 victory against Bullard on April 22.
Shutout 6-0 victories in CMAC 1 singles play, and rousing wins in dual match-singles and doubles play by Bedrosian were just some of the impressive highlights of a match of domination. When this humble and easy-to-coach senior swings the racket with ease this season, something special has happened to the Apaches, said head coach Jeremy Warkentin.
“Yeah, I mean, Matt’s just so unbelievable, he’s easy to coach, he’s so humble for how good he is,” Warkentin said. “And sometimes, to be honest, just like the things he does out there, he’s just heads and shoulders above everybody else in our league right now.”
And just like their senior extraordinaire, the Apaches have been heads and shoulders above the competition in the CMAC and, quite possibly, the entire Central Section. And Bedrosian’s emergence as a major force in the section has been beneficial in Sanger’s continued development as a perennial tennis contender once again, said Warkentin.
“We’ve got some phenomenal seniors who stepped up and showed a lot of composure, and then we’ve got a couple of young sophomores who I thought really grew up a lot during those matches,” Warkentin said. “We’ve had some years where we’ve been challenged more than others, and Bullard has a really good team this year. So, it was fun to have a formidable challenge with it.”
One of those sophomores who made tremendous strides is Ben Delgado. When the moment was big, Delgado rose to the occasion. According to Warkentin, Delgado never wavered and delivered a must-win in a pressure-packed situation.
“So, at the end of that match, we were tied four all, and it came down to my number six guy, who’s a sophomore, and with everybody there cheering him on, all eyes on him, he was able to come through and get a win, which then got us to win,” Warkentin said.
With another CMAC title safe and snug in their duffel bags, the Apaches can now focus on a Valley title that has eluded them since consecutive championships in 2018 and 2019. Despite a crowded and competitive field in this season’s Central Section D I Playoffs, Warkentin is confident that his team won’t shy away from the competition.
Sanger enters the Division I Playoffs as the #8 seed, matched up against #9 seed Bakersfield, who they haven’t played since 2018. Warkentin said he’s excited about the matchup that appears to be even, on both paper and court.
“So, we’re just excited at the opportunity to compete in Division I. I think that says a lot about our kids,” said Warkentin. “It’s been three years we’ve made at least the Division I quarterfinals or better.”
As the Apaches prepare for a hopeful deep run in the playoffs, Bedrosian will be counted on to keep on swinging that racket with grace and elegance. And if Bedrosian continues to win, the Apaches can sit back in astonishment and follow his lead, Warkentin said.
“As a coach, I kind of know he’s going to win wherever he’s at, and I can put my efforts elsewhere that might be needed a little bit more,” said Warkentin. “And some of our guys just kind of sit back in awe.”
