David Stanko is Canyon Springs' One-Man Tennis Team

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Kudos go out to Canyon Springs' Athletic Director Ralph Dudley and his counterparts in the Inland Valley League's for their hard work to make sure that David Stanko is able to pursue his passion...tennis!

Stanko, who is a junior at Canyon Springs High School (Moreno Valley, CA) joined me on today's NHSCA Sports Hour, to talk about him being his school's one-man tennis team. However, Stanko would not have been able to lay claim to that title if it weren't for Dudley and other AD's.

Canyon Springs' tennis program was disbanded eight years ago due to budget cuts. Stanko tried to transfer to Riverside Poly for his freshman year, but he was denied the transfer by the Riverside Unified School District, which meant he was a tennis player without a high school team.

That's when Dudley stepped-in and sent Stanko's resume to the California Interscholastic Federation to see if the CIF would allow him to be a one-man team. Armed with CIF approval, and more importantly, Inland Valley League approval, the Canyon Springs Stankos were born.

Stanko, who is ranked in the Top 100 in California for his age group, represents his school by playing three singles matches against opposing schools. While, his team never picks-up a "W", he's virtually unbeatable as an individual.

The junior, who dreams of playing college tennis and then moving-up to the pro ranks, does it all on his own in those matches, because there is no such tying as Canyon Springs tennis coach. There's no school bus to get him there either, so he's also responsible for his transportation to those matches.

The real test will come next month to see how far Stanko can go in the individual state championships.

No matter what happens the rest of the season, after talking with David, I know he de-SERVES the chance he's being given!