Ranked D1 champions in 2023, Portola High’s boys’ varsity tennis team is at the top of the pack — and this season, two standout freshmen, Isaac Chhiv and Garran McKay, have broken through the ranks and earned a spot on the varsity roster.
Chhiv’s interest in tennis sparked relatively young through his father, who was a tennis player. He began competing at the age of 10. Bringing his energy and enthusiasm to the courts, Chiiv worked his way up to become one of the most versatile players on the varsity team, excelling in both doubles and singles matches, according to head coach Natasha Schottland.
“Isaac really contributes to the energy and atmosphere of our matches, being loud, being aggressive,” Schottland said. “That’s something we look for when we look at team bonding, team camaraderie.”
Likewise, McKay began competing at 10 years old, after previously experimenting with several sports. After settling on tennis, McKay developed into a strong player excelling in both singles and doubles matches, according to McKay. With a preexisting background in competitive play, the transition to the varsity team and CIF playoffs came naturally.
“My dad first tried to find a sport for me [and] I played a lot of sports like rugby,” McKay said. “I played soccer, I did swimming, and then I just ended up with liking tennis the most.”
While skill is vital for varsity selection, it is not the only factor of consideration, according to Schottland. Rather, the potential to grow into a dedicated and team-oriented member is are aspects that are exemplified and looked for in varsity players.
“These freshmen boys have to prove their worth by taking a leadership role, bonding with the team, cheering on their teammates — all of those things,” Schottland said. “They really look to our upperclassmen [up] to role model for future years.”
For McKay and Chhiv, transitioning to the team means strengthening bonds with older teammates and learning to adjust to the varsity level.
“I feel like I have a special spot on the team,” Chhiv said. “Because all of our teammates are older, I really got used to the level by hitting with players [who] have been on varsity, [and] I really look up to them.”
As the team approaches the end of their season, playing two final sets of matches against Northwood on May 3 and Laguna Hills on May 5 at home, CIF Championships will allow both freshmen to test their growth throughout the year on the court, mentally and physically. Regardless of individual rankings, settling into a part of the team and showcasing their progress deserves commendation, according to Schottland.
“It’s very hard to find players who want to come out and dedicate time to practices when they have their own stuff outside,” Schottland said. “Someone who really wants to play for the team and who is a team player is super important to our sport, because if you don’t have that, you don’t have a working team.”
