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If area tennis fans had traded in their sunglasses for opera glasses this season, it would have been an understandable gesture as the Hanford boys sported the friendly intramural rivalry of Jake Knox and Curtis Lan, and the Kamiakin girls were led through a record-breaking season by freshman Brittney Reed ... of Liberty Christian.
From teammates dueling for the win to a darkhorse success story -- it didn't take much imagination to see the dramatic scope energizing the action on the courts.
And it was all but a no-brainer to choose Knox and Reed as the Tri-City Herald's All-Area tennis MVPs.
The Falcons' Jim Wilson and the Braves' Sarah Miller, meanwhile, were named coaches of the year for their guidance and organization behind the scenes.
Wilson helped Hanford's boys wrap up dual-meet play with a
5-1 league record -- the sole loss was to Kamiakin -- and led his team to a third-place state finish.
Miller took the Kamiakin girls to their first 3A state title since 1999 -- by a sharp margin of 13 points over runners-up Union and Holy Names.
But Miller refused to take all the credit, noting the contributions of Braves co-coach George Carlson and assistant coaches Pete Martin and Jeff Van Eaton.
"We run our practices together and that's a huge part of our success and longevity," Miller said. "This is my 19th year and George has been there 38 years. You look across the league and that's not always the case."
Reed, who receives her education under the Patriots banner and played for the Braves this season thanks to a provision in the WIAA rules, didn't just blossom as a player -- she rocketed to the moon and back. First, by knocking off previous state champion Alexis Filliol (West Valley) 6-3, 6-4 en route to the CBL district crown and then shutting down Arlington's Ivana Krommelova 6-1, 6-3 for the 3A state championship.
"It was definitely a tough match," Reed said. "I had to weather the storm and change up the pace and figure out what game plan worked against her."
Reed's quickfire adapability carried her through a spectacular first year, and added momentum to a career that Miller said is of much interest to area fans.
"Tennis enthusiasts in the area have known of Brittney for years and have hopes for her God-given ability," Miller said.
And the performances will continue, as Reed plans to play on a USTA PacNW team this summer.
"I play USTA all year round, and this year I'm either going to go to Texas or Louisiana to play on a Pacific Northwest Team," Reed said.
Meanwhile, Knox will be following the same road as Reed this summer as he swings the racket for the USTA in the Boys 18 Singles division.
Knox is determined to keep a serious pace on all fronts, and didn't take a breezy attitude when asked to recount his own advancement through the state tournament, where he defeated Seattle Prep's Shuhel Matsuya 6-2, 6-1 to clinch a fourth-place trophy.
"There weren't any easy wins," Knox said, but "I beat him pretty easily."
Matsuya defeated the Falcons' Curtis Lan in the consolation semifinals.
"Jake beat him pretty handily," Wilson said. "A bit of revenge for the Hanford team."
Revenge for Hanford and vindication for Lan, who proved to be Knox's toughest customer this season as he pushed Knox to three sets (2-6, 6-4, 6-2) in the regional championship.
But Knox's idea that most wins don't come easy may change next year as Wilson noted that Knox progressed by leaps and bounds this season.
"He's really picked up his game," Wilson said.
