By JAMES DUNNE Special to the Palisadian-Post Bel Air Bay Club repeated as champion of both the Conference and Championship Divisions of the California Paddle Tennis Conference, defeating both Beach Club and the Jonathan Club. Some 95 junior players between the ages of 6 and 16 from Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and neighboring communities competed in the summer-long beach paddle tennis conference. The Conference Championships were held last week at Bel Air Bay Club and a large crowd of parents and friends watched many of the finest junior paddle players in the country battle it out. ‘It’s one of the happiest days of the year,’ Commissioner Jimmy Dunne said. ‘About 70 kids having fun playing sports with their pals at the beach in sunny California… what could be better than that?’ Bel Air Bay Club won the Conference Division with 42 wins during the season, followed by Beach Club’s 35 and Jonathan Club’s 13. Beach Club Conference Champions included Chris Lords, Taylor Brandt, Rusty Barneson and Hugh Wilton, along with Devin Pence and Kevin Mekhitarian. Chris Lords flew in from Spain to capture his title. ‘You know what I loved the most? Watching our kids cheering on and encouraging each other. These matches are intense, but so friendly,’ said Roland Sunga, Athletic Director at the Beach Club. ‘These matches will provide memories that will last a lifetime.’ Bel Air Bay Club Conference champions included Drew Pion, Chase Pion, Preston Clifford and Cole Kahrilas. Ryan Calvert was one of the Jonathan Club Conference Champions. In front of a huge crowd, as music blasted in the background, the two veteran 16-year-old powerhouses from Bel Air Bay Club and Beach Club, Nick Angelich and Rusty Barneson, traded shots on Court 1 for the last time and it may go down as the greatest match in conference history. The two friends, having had numerous grudge matches for the past four years, egged each other on after their match for the conference singles title. ‘How many match points did you have against me? Eleven?’ laughed winner Rusty Barneson to his buddy after an exhausting finale. Barneson is also the starting setter for the Palisades High boys’ varsity volleyball team. Drew Pion of Bel Air Bay Club was in an incredible singles battle with Bel Air Bay Club’s Conner Page in the Boys’ 8s Division. ‘They had a marathon point that Conner lost,’ Sunga said. ‘The first thing that came out of Conner’s mouth was ‘That was a great point, Drew.’ That’s what makes this conference extraordinary.’ In the Championship Division, Bel Air Bay Club dominated play with a score of 106, followed by Beach Club’s 30 and Jonathan Club’s 23. Bel Air Bay Club Champion Division winners included Elizabeth Ryan, James Hargear, Chuck Black, MacKenzie Kalantari and Tyler Tabit. Jessie Lord was a Beach Club Championship Division winner. Carly Wagenbach, who competed for Bel Air Bay Club in the Girls’ 10s Championship Division, summed up the day… ‘When does next season start?’
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