All-CVA BOYS TENNIS: Ix tabbed as area COY

The only thing harder than winning a state title is successfully defending it. In the world of boys’ tennis, Western Albemarle coach Charles Ix pulled it off this past season as his squad left the Group AA tournament in Blacksburg as champions for the second year in a row.
With senior Ben Fitts and sophomores Joey Manilla and Alex Preve, there was no question that the 2008 edition of the Warriors was capable of defending its crown.
“These guys knew from day one that the goal was to get back and win it,” Ix said.
While that kind of pressure can often bury a team, Ix’s squad embraced the idea. By the first week of June, the pressure was off and the celebration was underway as Western defeated Salem 5-2.
“It wasn’t as surprising as it was last year,” said Manilla, the team’s top player. In 2007 the Warriors won the title 5-4 behind Manilla’s thrilling come-from-behind singles victory.
The Warriors played in 22 matches throughout the season. They won all 22. But to the team, it was more expectation than amazing run.
“It was different,” Manilla said. “This time is was relieving. Last year all the pressure was on me. I was in the spotlight. This year it was spread out throughout the team so it wasn’t the same burden. When [we won this time] it was cool. Yeah, we did it. But we knew we would.”
The most difficult task for the team, just as it was last season, was finding enough competition to prepare them for the level of play that comes in the post season. Until the Warriors began regional play in the playoffs, there just wasn’t anyone able to match up against the squad’s top six players from top to bottom. As a result, Ix got the team’s competitive juices flowing by putting his players up against themselves.
“These guys had to play each other more because that’s where they get their best competition,” Ix said. “And this season, on any given day, from one through six, anything can happen. We had days where one, two and three all lost to four, five and six. And then when the matches are playing, the team is gelling. You don’t want two weeks off because then these guys might end up killing each other.”
Ix’s practices weren’t the kind you’d see other prep teams go through in the area either. The players already have their stroke down. There aren’t many drills. Practice for the Warriors was playing the ladder, one match after another. Everyday was another practice full of matches.
“It was just him telling us to get on the court and play,” Manilla said. “We’d stretch a little, maybe run a few laps before, but really we do all our conditioning playing the game. And that’s why I think we’re so successful.”
Manilla also noted that what makes Ix so good as a coach is his talent on the court.
“He’s a really good player,” Manilla said. “He’ll help us as much as he can. He’s more of a point play coach. He’s teaching how to play points rather than hitting the ball. To me he’s really just a great player that also happens to be a great coach.”
As a result, Ix comes off to his players as more of a comrade than a commander.
“He’s a really good friend of mine,” Manilla said. “If I had a really hardcore coach I might be a little better technique wise, but I know that I’d have no heart. I don’t feel like I’d make it as far with out that. Plus he’s fun to be around. He jokes a lot. I think everyone really appreciates that.”
Just two years ago Western was an outstanding tennis team. Since then Ix has turned them into an outstanding program, a high school tennis juggernaut.
Ix has four players returning next year who’ve been on top not once, but twice. Next season doesn’t appear to look much different from last. The goal once again will be to win it all.
“When you’re a good team, you’re expected to win,” Ix said. “I won’t say that we’ll win it all. But we should at least be able to get back there to the finals.”