Dynamic duo scores SCIAC honor

photo by Jenna Campbell

Senior co-captains Jason Cortez and Chad Rodriguez are the No. 1 tennis doubles team at La Verne. The duo have been paired up since spring of last year, with a record of 11-5 overall and 5-1 in conference. “These guys are the best tennis players La Verne has ever seen, when they are gone no one will be able to fill their shoes,” head coach Steve Bergovoy said.

by Sara Lupu
Staff Writer

One would think that with the combined athleticism and accomplishments of this dynamic duo on the tennis courts, they have received many awards and recognition, but that is not the case.

For the first time in two years of playing together, and four years playing tennis at the University of La Verne, seniors Jason Cortez and Chad Rodriguez were named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Male Athletes of the Week for the week ending March 3.

“I was excited about the award, but shocked that it didn’t happen sooner because we did so well together last year,” Rodriguez said.

The recognition, along with a possible offers for professional tennis careers is just one reason to get to know Cortez and Rodriguez.

The two have been doubles partners and co-captains for the past two seasons and continue to put up consistent numbers for the team that is currently 4-11 overall.

“They are making their mark as a doubles team, and in the last two years they have upset some of the best teams in the nation,” head men’s tennis coach Steve Bergovoy said.

Cortez and Rodriguez are ultimately looking to advance to the West Regionals and qualify for Nationals.

“Regionals will just be another area where we can prove our abilities,” Cortez said.

“The West Region is saturated with the top talent in the nation, and we are looking for them to finish big and set a standard for future players,” Bergovoy said. “By winning regionals, they will most likely be named All-Americans, and there’s nobody who deserves it more.”

Cortez, 21, is originally from Monrovia, but his family moved to Chino when he was in high school.

He finished prepping at Don Lugo High School where he also was a member of the tennis team.

If it was not for a football injury his freshman year in high school that led him to try another sport, he may have never become so successful on the tennis court.

ULV was the only college he applied to because of the size of the school and the close proximity to home.

He was not planning on playing tennis because he did not expect to make the team.

“I just thought that college tennis was a whole other level and that I wouldn’t be able to play,” Cortez said.

Being one of the top players on the team and a co-captain now proves his thoughts wrong.

“His game has improved since day one and now he is a well rounded tennis player,” Bergovoy said.

Rodriguez, 21, is from Upland and graduated from Upland High School.

Rodriguez has been playing tennis for a total of 16 years, but has only been playing competitively for 10.

He was supposed to attend Cal Poly on a Division II tennis scholarship, but when he went to orientation he realized that the school was not a place he could call home.

“I had been in contact with, and knew Steve [Bergovoy] and he ended up recruiting me and helping me out with late applications,” Rodriguez said.

With different backgrounds and reasons for coming to ULV, the two were lucky in finding each other.

When asked about the partnership and team that they have formed, both were quick to smile and provide an answer with no kind of hesitation, like the way they complement each other on the court.

“We are the best pair,” Cortez said. “We complement each other and our flow is automatic. If he moves one way, I know I need to go the other way.”

“We definitely keep each other calm and when one’s down we can pick them up, and vice versa,” Rodriguez said. “When we are focused, anything can happen, and wherever the ball is, one of us will be there. The lack of stress makes our games go smoothly.”

For now, the pair is focused on finishing their season strong and graduating in May. Cortez is majoring in communications and Rodriguez in computer science.

While the two are sure that they will someday be looking for careers in their fields of interest, there is another opportunity on their horizon, an opportunity that every college athlete wishes they could receive.

Bergovoy has set up a sponsorship for them to join the professional tennis circuit after graduation if they continue their strong play.

“This is something that I am excited to help them with if they continue to do well and prove that they deserve it,” Bergovoy said. “I am not just looking for results, I am looking at their character and professionalism on the court, and their ability to deal with pressure and execute under it.”

Both Cortez and Rodriguez are looking seriously into the opportunity and know what they have to get done in the mean time.

Besides being great athletes and on track to graduate in May, Cortez and Rodriguez are both exceptional individuals.

“These guys have played for me all four years, and I feel like they are my children,” Bergovoy said. “I take a ton of personal interest in my players and I cherish my relationship with them.”

Watching the two play together is synchronization at its best. They both bring a strong knowledge and love for the game and it can be seen just passing by to watch them play for a few minutes.

“Jason is a kid who has unbelievable energy and keeps things light and lively,” Bergovoy said. “When we get a little too serious he can break the tension. At the same time, he is a world-class athlete with a very natural game and triple-digit serves. I might say that he is a tennis version of Kobe Bryant.”

“And Chad, I would adopt him in a second,” Bergovoy said. “The leadership and maturity that he brings to this team are phenomenal. He gives 200 percent every practice and I never have to ask him to pick up his intensity.”

With only three regular season matches remaining, Cortez and Rodriguez are looking for wins to end the season on the right foot.

“We have to go in with the belief that we will do well. Without that there’s no point in competing,” Cortez said.

“We can take all of the teams, we’ve already proven that to ourselves and we know we have the abilities,” Rodriguez said. “Now it is just a matter of execution.”

The two will compete for their last time at La Verne at 9:30 a.m. on April 10. After that, they plan to make La Verne tennis history.

“These two have produced unbelievable results, and accomplished more than ULV tennis has ever seen before, and I am so proud of them,” Bergovoy said.