2026 High School Boys Tennis Preview

First match: Was Saturday

Championship dates: Team finals are May 2 at the Barnes Tennis Center; singles and doubles finals are May 9 at the Balboa Tennis Club

Defending team champions: Canyon Crest Academy (Open Division), La Jolla (Division 1), Valhalla (Division 2), Valley Center (Division 3),

Defending individual champions: Ilias Bouzoubaa, Francis Parker (singles); Aditya Khanna/Chasen Wang, Canyon Crest Academy (doubles)

2025 Player of the Year: Ilias Bouzoubaa, Francis Parker

Players to watch 

(in alphabetical order)

Ilias Bouzoubaa, Francis Parker, Jr. Powerful hitter romped to 6-2, 6-1 win in CIF singles finals.

Noah Bouzoubaa, Francis Parker, Fr. Carbon copy of older brother, but an even bigger hitter.

Luke Donar, Rancho Bernardo, Jr. Solid, calm doubles player. Nice volleys and overhead.

Arnon Jittathai, Rancho Bernardo, So. Made doubles finals last year with Donar.

Ashwin Kalla, Canyon Crest Academy, So. Big improvement in all facets of his game.

Aditya Khanna, Canyon Crest Academy, Jr. Big hitter from both sides, particularly forehand.

Jacoby Laws, Cathedral Catholic, Jr. At 6-foot-3, features one of the section’s biggest serves.

Derrick Li, Cathedral Catholic, Fr. Excellent footwork contributes to an aggressive baseline game.

Nicolas Lilov, Point Loma, Sr. Opens up the court with a big serve and covers ground.

Jorge Obregon, Torrey Pines, Fr. All-court player possesses fleet footwork.

Kona Paraseghian, High Tech-San Diego, So. Distant relative pf late Notre Dame football coach Ara Paraseghian.

Oskar Rouse, University City, Sr. Lost in singles finals last year.

Joseph Sammartino, La Jolla, Jr. Has complete game and is incredibly intelligent on court.

Liam Thiele, Torrey Pines, So. One of the top athletes in the section.

Leo Thieler, La Jolla, Sr. Gonzo hitter off both sides, dictates with pace.

Julius Toda, Canyon Crest Academy, Sr. The best doubles player on the best team in the section.

Andre Wang, Torrey Pines, So., Left-handed twin is patient, a grinder.

Chasen Wang, Canyon Crest Academy, Jr. Stylish with beautiful strokes.

Ethan Wang, Torrey Pines, So. Right-handed twin is a fierce competitor, excellent anticipator.

Ian Yang, Westview, Fr. Newcomer could be a threat to win the section singles title.

Notable

Oh brother

Ilias Bouzoubaa of Francis Parker is the reigning section singles champion, winning the title in impressive fashion as a sophomore. Bouzoubaa won all five matches in straight sets, dropping just 10 games. He’ll be joined this spring by his freshman brother, Noah, who has a higher Universal Tennis Rating than Ilias had going into his freshman season. Their goal is to meet in the section finals this year — and then next season, when Ilias is a senior, try to win the section doubles title.

Double time

Canyon Crest Academy coach Kevin Brown says that senior Julius Toda is the Ravens’ best doubles player. Come May, Toda will try to match something his sister Minerva pulled off in November. Minerva and Isabelle Hsu of CCA won the section doubles title. Julius and likely partner Calvin Karlander will try to get things done more swiftly than Minerva and Hsu did. It took the CCA girls three hours and seven minutes to win a 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 final.

Dominant Ravens

Canyon Crest Academy has won the boys Open title three of the past four years. On the girls side, the Ravens have captured seven of the last eight Open championships.

“There’s a combination of things that sort of work into the perfect storm,” said Brown, CCA’s boys and girls coach.

“The first one is obvious; you get talent coming to you. Generally, my job is to keep them focused, keep them happy and keep to a minimum how angry they get at themselves. You’re more managing the head part than the technical part. And the parents are just unbelievable. I have absolutely no issues at all. Never have, not for a second. And the school turns out incredibly well-educated kids. They’re not just smart; they’re also motivated, creative, interested, curious. You don’t necessarily find that at other places.”

— DON NORCROSS