Two of the best singles tennis players in the region are on a collision course, preparing for a possible — some say probable — showdown in the district tournament.
Only, please don’t say collision.
Hannah Gianan of Camas and Amila Gogalija of Mountain View don’t need any more collisions.
In a strange coincidence, both athletes were involved in separate car accidents this spring that left them with whiplash and overall soreness.
Gianan played a match after her incident in which she needed massage treatment in between sets. Gogalija took about 10 days off from the sport. Neither is 100 percent just yet.
In fact, Camas and Mountain View faced each other Monday — but the two best singles players in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League did not. Knowing his player was not fully recovered from her injury, Mountain View coach Nick Frost penciled in Gogalija for a doubles match.
That means Gianan and Gogalija won’t face each other this season unless they find each other in the district tournament bracket.
One thing is certain: District will be a lot different. Sammi Hampton and her dominance — four-time district and state champion — is off to Arizona State. For the first time since 2011, someone not named Hampton will be a district champion.
Gianan and Gogalija both have enough accomplishments in their history to become worthy of taking over that mantle.
Gianan is a two-time state champion in doubles. She and partner Jen Lewis joined Hampton in leading Southwest Washington to sweeps in singles and doubles the past two years.
“It was a good experience, knowing not a lot of people from this area get to do that,” Gianan said. “It was really fun to represent our district and come back on top above all the other districts.”
Lewis has graduated, opening the door for Gianan, a junior, to move to singles competition.
Gogalija, meanwhile, also had an amazing run at state last year. Making it to the final 16 as an alternate, Gogalija won two matches in a row, fell in the semifinals, then rebounded to finish third.
“I learned I had more potential than I thought,” said Gogalija, now a senior who hopes to play college tennis next year. “I started playing even more after that, once I realized how far I could get.”
Her main goal is to finish first or second in state this spring.
“But first, I have to focus on district,” Gogalija said.
Gianan, who has not lost a set this season, said she really enjoys doubles but wanted to “change it up” this season and have a go at singles. She believes she has a “pretty good chance” of winning a state title.
“It would be cool to have the doubles and the singles,” she said.
Both players say they have upped their games since last season.
“It made me try even harder,” Gogalija said. “I want to push myself because it was so fun at state.”
This spring break wasn’t much of a break for Gogalija. She went to Los Angeles to train at an academy.
Gianan, a junior, said she is taking care of her body more — automobile accidents notwithstanding — and she has the endurance to handle longer, more competitive matches.
“I’ve matured in a sense in that I’ve changed my game from someone who looked to hit hard every time … to playing really smart,” Gianan said. “I’m improving my game to get my highest potential I can.”
Gianan is ranked seventh in the Pacific Northwest by the United States Tennis Association for the 18-and-under age group. Gogalija is ranked 35th. Both have respect for one another’s game, and they also were doubles partners in club competition a couple months ago.
No matter how this season concludes, it is clear Southwest Washington high school girls tennis will be well represented again. As noted earlier, the Class 4A doubles and singles titles have gone to Clark County athletes in recent years. Still, there is a stigma. Both players said there are those from the rest of the state who do not have a favorable opinion about Southwest Washington.
“We’re way more” than what others think,” Gogalija said. “Honestly, this is one of the best regions.”
“We’re going to show them we have strong tennis down here, and we can fend for ourselves,” Gianan said.
For now, Gianan and Gogalija want to get healthy and strong, for some healthy and strong competition at district — and possibly beyond.
