What started out as a way to connect with his father has blossomed into one of the more notable young tennis careers in the Inland area.
Under the weeknight lights of local parks in Riverside and Corona, Michael Chang learned to love the game and found a talent for shot-making.
“It was how we bonded,” Chang said of his father, whose name is also Michael. “He played in high school (and) it was something we could play and bond over,”
Chang, from Arlington High School who now stars for Riverside City College, is not related to the former pro tennis star of the same name.
The COVID-19 pandemic cut in half Chang’s high school career but he still netted consecutive league titles and two all-CIF Southern Section awards at Arlington.
“In high school, I was always trying to be a team player,” Chang said. “I tried to make it so the team always wanted to be there.”
He enrolled at RCC despite collegiate options elsewhere, spent last year adapting before returning this season with a changed mindset.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and wanted to make too big of an impact,” he said. “When I got to the second year, I learned that I can only play my best.”
Recently selected as the Orange Empire Conference singles and doubles player of the year – alongside teammate Lance Lao (Claremont High) – Chang did not lose a game in OEC play during his sophomore season.
“I poured in all the effort I had because I actually can do something with tennis,” he said.
Riverside defeated Glendale 5-3 in the California Community College Athletic Association SoCal regional semifinal on Tuesday. The Tigers will host Irvine Valley in for the regional final on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Ahead of the 3C2A team playoffs, Chang announced he will stay local and transfer to UC Riverside.
“I want to continue to stay close to home and develop in Riverside,” he said. “Other schools, you have to travel a lot more and this way I get to stay mostly in Southern California.”
Chang is 17-2 this season and has earned his spot in the singles tournament at the prestigious Ojai Tournament for the second consecutive year.
The comparisons to the most famous Michael Chang – who won the 1989 French Open and was a three-time Grand Slam finalist during a 15-year professional career from 1988-2003 – are natural.
“I used to hear it a lot – ‘Are you related to him?’ – but after watching some of his matches, I feel like my game resembles his in that he was defensive and wasn’t the biggest guy on the court,” Chang said. “He found ways to win, and I feel like I’m always going to find a way to win.
“I put a lot of time and effort into becoming a disciplined player. Even if that means a match takes, like, 3 hours, I will do it. I will do whatever it takes to win.”
PAPPAS SETS RUNS RECORD
Cal Poly Pomona senior catcher Johnny Pappas has crossed home plate more than any other player in Broncos history.
The Ayala High graduate scored one run in a 5-4 loss to San Francisco State on Saturday, April 12, setting Cal Poly Pomona’s new record with his 169th career run. He currently is batting. 339 with 37 runs scored in 47 games.
A two-time All-CCAA first team selection, Pappas was an NCAA Division II All-West Region unanimous first team pick after batting .352 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 42 RBIs and 60 runs last season.
The previous record was held for 38 years by Tom Weeks (1984-’87), who was drafted by the New York Yankees.
POMONA-PITZER GETS MOORE
Pomona-Pitzer men’s soccer announced Clint Moore as its next coach on Tuesday, April 7.
Previously the assistant coach at NCAA Division II Colorado School of Mines, Moore helped lead the Orediggers to five NCAA Tournament appearances in eight years.
“My time there will be cherished,” Moore said. “I learned so much inside a great program (and) I will take these experiences into my new role. We have a talented group and I am eager to get started.”
Moore also was an assistant at Air Force, Illinois Wesleyan and Knox College, where he was a two-sport athlete (soccer and basketball) before becoming a coach.
SPRING KICKS
The Cal Poly Pomona men’s team hosts UC Riverside in an exhibition game at Kellogg Stadium on Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. … The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s team, NCAA Division III Sweet 16 participants last season, will host its alumni game at Scripps Field on April 26 at 10 a.m. … Mt. San Jacinto sophomore defender Ava Berger (Beaumont High) has committed to Cal State San Bernardino. … The San Bernardino Valley College men’s team has announced that San Gorgonio High senior forward Julio Calzado and Banning senior forward Adrian Casillas will play for the Wolverines this fall.
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