By Perry Smith
Signal Staff Writer
psmith@the-signal.com
              661-259-1234         661-259-1234 x526
Posted: March 6, 2010  10:59 p.m.
POSTED  March 7, 2010 4:55 a.m.

The Valencia boys tennis team took its first trip to the 26th annual California High School Tennis Classic at Buchanan High School in Clovis over the weekend.

Given how things turned out, the Vikings will probably be planning a return visit next year.

Valencia swept through several top programs in a pre-Foothill League tune-up, finishing 5-0 after five matches and earning first place in the tournament's third division on Saturday...read more.
 

By Perry Smith
Signal Staff Writer
psmith@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x526
Posted: Jan. 21, 2010  9:56 p.m.
POSTED  Jan. 22, 2010 4:55 a.m.
Valencia boys tennis captain Tyler Gottshall has one less thing to worry about heading into his senior season - college plans.

Gottshall recently committed to Loyola Marymount University, becoming the first boys' tennis player from Valencia to go straight to an NCAA Division I team.

Gottshall, who plays No. 1 singles for the Vikings, will join former Viking Jack Zapala, who  transferred from Azusa Pacific University last year.

"I decided on LMU because the campus was really beautiful. It's a nice campus, a nice, small school. It's near the beach," Gottshall said. "I wanted to stay in California, plus I know the coach there."

Gottshall met LMU tennis head coach Brad Sceney, who's in his second year with the program, while Sceney was an instructor locally at The Paseo Club.

"I met him probably when I was 12 or 13," Gottshall said. "I took lessons with him until he started coaching at LMU."

Valencia tennis head coach Annie Kellogg said Gottshall's 6-foot-6-inch frame, a great serve-and-volley game and unparalleled dedication should allow him to make an impact right away.

"(Gottshall's) dedication is just amazing - not only for...read more

Jan. 19, 2010

Los Angeles, Calif. - Senior at Valencia High School, Tyler Gottshall will join the LMU racquet men this next fall. Under long time Valencia High School tennis coach Annie Kellog, Gottshall has developed into a great all-around player and athlete. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, Gottshall has grown to use his height and athleticism to his advantage on the tennis court. As the No.1 singles player from Valencia and captain of the team, Gottshall will be a great asset for the Lion's roster.

Future coach Brad Sceney said, "Tyler will flourish in a college environment, he wants to work hard and when you have the talent behind that, great things happen. We look for him to be an instant contributor in doubles and depending upon the pace of his improvement in singles, will challenge a lot of players. His serve and volley style leaves most matches played on his terms, if he is on, there is not much you can do. We just have to install that confidence in him and watch him develop."

In addition to his presence on the court, Tyler is a good student athlete and leader. Not only was he the one of the top players in the Foothill League and CIF Division, last year he received the Valencia team Stefan Edberg Award, named after the Scandinavian tennis star, who was renowned for his sportsmanship.

Current LMU Lion, Jack Zapala, also comes from Valencia High School's tennis powerhouse. Both Gottshall and Zapala have helped lead the Valencia Vikings to win seven Foothill League championships over the past eight years.

Follow the LMU racquet men this season as they start their spring competition this Saturday against USC at 10am. (view original article)

May 17, 2009

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: May 16, 2009  8:59 p.m.
POSTED  May 17, 2009 4:55 a.m.

2009 was another successful season for Valencia boys tennis, but Saturday it ended just like the 2008 campaign, at the hands of perennial powerhouse Palm Desert.

The Aztecs rolled to a 17-1 win at Valencia High to score a decisive victory in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

“They are a really good team,” said Valencia senior Matt Cheng. “One through nine they have a lot of great players.”

Cheng teamed with J.R. Macalutas for the Vikings (16-3) only set victory on the day, topping Palm Desert’s No. 1 doubles team of Kyle and Chris Bastardi 6-4...read more.

May 15, 2009
By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: May 14, 2009  10:18 p.m.
POSTED  May 15, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Valencia’s first round CIF-Southern Section Division II match was all about teamwork.

The Vikings leaned on a strong doubles performance, taking eight of nine sets in the doubles bracket, en route to a 12-6 win and a second-round invite.

“Our doubles teams were brilliant,” said Valencia head coach Annie Kellogg. “We knew that they had a talented singles team, but we weren’t sure how deep they were. We came within a break of sweeping doubles, which is pretty impressive for a playoff match.” read more.

April 30, 2009

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: April 30, 2009  10:15 p.m.
Updated: May 1, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Valencia finished off an undefeated Foothill League season while putting an exclamation point on its seventh league title in eight years by dropping Canyon 14-4 at home.

The Vikings (16-3, 10-0) got singles sweeps from Tyler Gottshall and Ben Inchalik.

April 21, 2009
By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: April 21, 2009  10:19 p.m.
Updated: April 22, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Perfection was in peril for Valencia boys tennis Tuesday.

West Ranch nearly ended the Vikings’ undefeated run through the Foothill League before falling 10-8 at home.

However, one streak was brought to a halt Tuesday. Top Valencia...read more.

April 15, 2009
By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: April 15, 2009  1:37 a.m.
Updated: April 15, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Some teams have a reputation so strong that they don’t need to make a statement.

Still, it’s those types of teams that tend to send the loudest messages.

As if winning six of the last seven Foothill League championships and opening the league season 4-0 was not enough, the Vikings took Tuesday’s match against Canyon as a chance to remind the rest of the league who is in charge...read more
.

April 15, 2009

Valencia Vikings improved their record to 10-1 overall and 5-0 in league with a convincing 15-3 win over Canyon Country.

Vikings were perfect in doubles winning all nine points including convincing wins of 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 from their number one team of Ronny Kimelman and Anders Jansson. Jr Macalutas and Matt Cheng won two sets 6-3, 7-5, while the team of John Schmidt and Danny Bingham also won two sets 6-3, 6-4. Alex Pick and Anthony Miao won one set 6-3 and Daniel Bogan and Rohan Shah won one set 6-4...read more

April 3, 2009

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: April 3, 2009  1:14 a.m.
Updated: April 3, 2009 4:55 a.m.

The weather may have turned sour while Valencia boys tennis battled Saugus at home on a windy Thursday, but the Vikings extended their winning streak to nine matches with a 14-4 victory.

Valencia (9-1, 4-0) was once again led by its top two singles players as Tyler Gottshall (6-0, 6-1, 6-1) and Ben Inchalik (6-0, 6-0, 6-0) dominated their...read more

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: April 1, 2009  1:07 a.m.
Updated: April 1, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Valencia continued its quest to keep its Foothill League crown with another decisive victory Tuesday.

The Vikings rolled past Hart 14-4 on the road, thanks in large part to a trio of sets won by Valencia’s top two singles players, Tyler Gottshall and Ben Inchalik...read more

March 27, 2009 - Santa Clarita Valley Life - scvlife.net

Valencia’s Number one singles player Tyler Gottshall swept in singles defeating Jordan Hovis 7-6, Beau Martin 6-2, and Jason Wei 6-1, Beau Martin West Ranch’s number two singles player won two matches defeating Valencia’s Ben Inchalik 6-1, and Isaac Candib 6-2, Ben Inchalik from Valencia won two matches defeating Jordan Hovis 6-3 and Jason Wei 6-4...read more

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: March 27, 2009  1:40 a.m.
Updated: March 27, 2009 4:55 a.m.

Valencia came into Thursday’s match against West Ranch with the goal of defending its reputation as the elite team in the Foothill League, but it turned out that the Vikings were up against more than just an up-and-coming Wildcat team...read more

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: March 23, 2009  1:19 a.m.
Updated: March 23, 2009 4:56 a.m.

When Tyler Gottshall stepped onto the varsity tennis court as a freshman he was a shy, yet gifted player, who had earned the third singles spot on the Valencia squad.

Now in his junior year Gottshall has evolved into one of the best players in the Foothill League and a team captain on a team that has won six of the last seven Foothill League championships...read more

By Kevin Damore
Signal Staff Writer
kdamore@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x535
Posted: March 22, 2009  1:24 a.m.
Updated: March 22, 2009 4:55 a.m.

After nearly eight hours of tennis, Valencia and Granada Hills were dead even in points at the Valencia Spring Smash.

But when the games were tallied, the Vikings held a 98-89 edge and its second consecutive tournament trophy.

Junior Tyler Gottshall led the Viking charge by taking the singles title with a total score of 32-8, including an 8-1 win over West Ranch’s Jordan Hovis in the finals.

“I was definitely serving well,” Gottshall said. “I hit well from the baseline. I think Jordan was a little nervous, and I was able to take advantage of that.”

The young Valencia squad also advanced its doubles team to the finals before junior Ronnie Kimelman and freshman J.R. Macalutas ran into seniors Dom Plata and Aaron Goodwein of Granada Hills. The duo from Granada Hills scored an 8-4 win, taking the final three points...read more

By Paul Putignano
Signal Staff Writer
pputignano@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x536
Posted: March 23, 2009  1:33 a.m.
Updated: March 23, 2009 4:55 a.m.

In many ways, it might be a building year for Foothill League boys tennis.

Some teams are trying to fill holes left by graduating seniors, while others are busy laying a foundation for the future of their program.

For Valencia, one of the league's early frontrunners, there were large shoes to fill...read more

By Joey Gulino
Signal Staff Writer
jgulino@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x530
Posted: March 19, 2009  1:37 a.m.
Updated: March 19, 2009 4:55 a.m.

This season, the Valencia boys tennis team has been looking for someone to provide leadership on the doubles side.

On Wednesday, the Vikings may have found him.

Normally a singles player, Ronny Kimmelman suffered a recent ankle injury and paired with Anders Jansson on the No. 1 doubles team Wednesday. The duo completed Valencia’s first doubles sweep this season as the Vikings knocked off Buckley of Sherman Oaks 14-4 at Valencia High School...read more