12:00pm | by Marc Vartabedian

The Wilson High School boys varsity tennis team is closing in on its second consecutive Moore League title. The Bruins, coached by Chuck Schafer, have been one of the hottest teams in the greater Long Beach area and boast a 5-0 record in the Moore League. The squad impressed early with a notable pre-season win against Cerritos who reached the semi-finals of the 2011 CIF division three playoffs. The Bruins are currently ranked 7th in the division three CIF coach’s poll.  
Schafer has returned the core of his 2011 team and notes the role sophomore Jenteel Alcafaras plays in the Bruin’s success. “He is our best singles player and is undefeated so far this year.” The top doubles team of Ryan Murchison and Cameron Smith have also helped lead the team with a 20-2 record. “They have lost only twice and will represent the school in this year’s Ojai Tournament,” said Schafer. 

Last season the young Bruin squad won their first league title in 17 years by finishing ahead of Long Beach Poly. It was the eighth time the Bruins were crowned league champions under Schafer’s 25 year career at Wilson.

After an early season trouncing of fellow Moore League title contenders Poly and Lakewood, the Bruin’s appear to be on course to defend their title. A second win on April 17th over Poly would almost guarantee the title. 

The Bruins will soon turn their focus to the CIF playoffs where the team’s 2011 campaign ended in a quarter-final loss to eventual champion, Sage Hill of Newport Beach. A run through the CIF tournament would require the Bruins to also defeat Temecula Valley and Valencia High, ranked one and two respectively in the current CIF division three coach’s poll.   

The Bruins also have a solid group of junior varsity freshmen looking to uphold the program’s recent success a couple years down the road. Number one singles player Kenny Moutet has led the second team, along with Will Gugerty and Chris Weikel. “We do have a great group of young players,” says Schafer of the 12-1 junior varsity team.

With the individual Ojai Tournament and team CIF playoffs approaching, Schafer’s varsity squad looks to take Bruin tennis where it hasn’t been in almost two decades, to the top of southern California division three high school tennis.