There is a time for everything in the world of defending state champion Andre Ilagan.
That also means making use of precious free time between the OIA tennis championships and the senior prom. The Farrington senior will play for Hawaii next season, but he has learned to manage his time off the court like a pro.
Immediately after defeating West No. 1 Rylan Woo of Pearl City 6-0, 6-1 to capture the boys individual title for a fourth year in a row, Ilagan received his medal and left the sultry confines of Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. He had other important business to tend to.
“I went home to take a nap because I felt really tired,” Ilagan said on Saturday afternoon.
If a little beauty nap sounds rather strange, it’s not, actually. Ilagan simply wanted to refuel for a busy, fun night with his girlfriend and best friends at the prom.
“Tennis is a priority, but I’ll have a fun day and enjoy the moment,” he said.
Ilagan isn’t the first in his family to win the OIA crown. Oldest brother Anthony won two league championships. Then middle brother Mark took one title.
“I always have a chip on my back saying I should win for my brothers and my family, and for Farrington,” Ilagan said.
The HMSA/HHSAA State Tennis Championships are two weeks away, the first chance for a Farrington Governor to defend the crown. Ilagan became the school’s first state champ last year.
“My goal is to win back-to-back (titles). I have a lot of pressure as always because I live in a tennis family,” said Ilagan, who noticed something unusual recently. “Dad (Sergio) got mellow ever since I signed for college.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ilagan. The match was halted with the Governor ahead 4-0 in the second set when he landed awkwardly, a sharp pain piercing his calf.
“After the match, it was OK,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarah Domingo of Pearl City captured her third consecutive girls individual title. The junior defeated Dale Emoto of Kalani 7-5, 6-1, the second time the two have met in the league final. Domingo was subdued to an extent about the championship medal. She would gladly trade it for a team championship. Pearl City finished second to Mililani in the girls standings.
“I’ve already won the individual two times,” Domingo said. “The whole team deserves it. Everybody works hard.”
Mililani, under head coach Jason Agsalda, took the boys team title, and captured its 10th consecutive OIA girls team title.
The girls doubles final was an all-Mililani battle, with West No. 1 duo Taryn Fujimori and Kylie Hull rallying to edge teammates Reannon Suzuki and Allena Wong, the West No. 2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Fujimori and Hull hadn’t lost a match all season, and with the all-Mililani matchup, their coaches refrained from any normal coaching in between games.
“In the beginning, we were rushing a lot. You have to give it to (Suzuki and Wong). They played well,” said Hull, a tall sophomore who is aggressive at the net. “We play well together because of our personalities. I’m more of a firecracker, aggressive and loud. Taryn is more quiet, calm, relaxed. We kind of balance each other out.”
Mililani’s youthful boys doubles team of sophomore Hunter Fujimori and freshman Aidan Rooney defeated Kevin Dang and Christian Lopez of Kapolei 6-0, 6-2 in the final.
The Dang-Lopez team was clearly fatigued after a thriller semifinal win over Spencer Dang and Alex Nakasato of Mililani, 2-6, 6-1, 10-7. Fujimori and Rooney also got their toughest challenge in the semifinals, outlasting Duane Lariego and Trent Domingo of Pearl City 7-5, 6-1.
“We’ve played together four years in USTA,” Fujimori said. “We try to keep it calm and serious.”
“He’s better than me tennis-wise, attitude-wise,” said the freshman, Rooney. “I’ve learned to calm down because of Hunter.”
