Kaiser’s Covey, Yakabe Welcome New Tennis Partnership

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Kaiser’s Ken Covey concentrates on his backhand during play at Central Oahu Regional Park. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Kaiser High’s Ken Covey and Brantly Yakabe are hardly new to the prep tennis scene, but they still are relatively new to each other as they prepare for this week’s state tennis championships on the Big Island. Both played at the event last season, albeit with different partners, and are looking for the right finish to their high school careers.

“Both qualified last year, so it was a realistic pairing,” longtime coach Kristie Yamamoto said.“It was based on ability - they were the strongest two. It was a little difficult for them at first, but now they work well as a team. They complement each other, and they’ve learned how to play well together. They didn’t play together until April 15. It took awhile to figure out how to pair them up.”

Part of the decision was made for Yamamoto when Brantly’s partner, Yuta Omori, was lost for the season due to an injury suffered while skateboarding.

As a tandem now, Covey and Yakabe are 4-1 in matches entering this weekend in Kona, with their only defeat having come to Kalani’s Nicholas Lee and Cody Lau in the OIA finals April 26 - solid results, considering they knew each other on the court more from opposite sides of the net.

“We never played together in practice,” Covey said. “We always played against each other. Our styles of play match up well. I can serve, and Brantly is more aggressive - at the net - and he always plays calm. We’re getting to understand how each other plays, and we’re starting to play better together. “

Added Yakabe:“Ken is a lot more flexible than I am. He can adapt to any kind of game. He’s a good partner.” Yakabe’s own flexibility also has been tested by having several different partners this season. “I’m getting used to it,“he said.“Every week is different.”

Yakabe was paired up with Jesse Smothermon in 2009, and they responded by winning two rounds at the state tournament. Covey was paired with Rei Yoshimine last year, but the two weren’t able to make it past the first round.

This is the last go-around for both, Covey pointed out. “This is our last chance to play well. Right now, I am not sure about next year (in college), so I want to make sure we get out there and play our game.”

While travel can bring other issues, Yakabe is all for it and thinks this week’s trip to Kona will be a positive rather than a distraction.

“I think it will help us (concentrate),“he said.“It will make it more exciting to travel. A change of atmosphere will be different, but good.”

East Oahu will be well represented at the tournament between competitors from Kaiser and Kalani alone. In addition to OIA doubles champions Nicholas Lee and Cody Lau, the Falcons also boast the singles champion from the league in Jared Spiker.

Seedings and starting times for the state tournament at Holua Tennis Center & Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort Thursday through Saturday were to be released late Sunday.