All-CVA BOYS TENNIS: Manilla takes POY honors

By Ryan Yemen Daily Progress correspondent
Published: August 31, 2008

For Western Albemarle’s Joey Manilla, superstitions aren’t just a good luck charm — they’re a way of life. He’s looking for just about every mental edge he can find — even if it means wearing layers.
“I always have to wear two pairs of socks,” Manilla said. “I’ve got lucky socks, the same ones I wore in the state championship last year. Also, if I lose with a ball, I never use it again. I have a good shirt. Lucky boxers. Lucky sweat pants, everything. I’ve even got a lucky hat now.”
Whatever it is that he’s doing, he probably shouldn’t change it. As the No.1 player for the Warriors, Manilla played an instrumental role in leading his team to a second consecutive state title and also won the Region II singles championship. Manilla went 19-1 on the season in singles and paired with a couple of other Western players to go undefeated in doubles.
Warriors coach Charles Ix doesn’t discourage Manilla’s superstitious nature either because it has its benefits.
“I do it myself,” Ix laughs. “But really, in any sport, the more comfortable you are mentally, the more effective you are athletically.”
Ix and the Warriors came into the season with hopes of repeating as state champions and Manilla was a big reason why they did. While still very young, Manilla’s ability on the court gave the Warriors a clear edge in every match. The team’s faith in Manilla’s ability to put Western up 1-0 was unwavering, even with Ix, who also happens to be a part of Manilla’s superstition.
“Going into a match if he’s not there I won’t play as well,” Manilla said. “He’s got so much confidence in me. I know no matter who I’m playing, he thinks I’m going to win. That gives me a whole lot of confidence.”
Manilla welcomes the burden of being the number one player, and also is warm to the idea taking on the pressure that comes with being one of the favorites to win the state title.
“I liked having the pressure of winning this year,” Manilla said. “It made everyone try harder. When it came down to it everyone was focused.”
Manilla and his team cruised through the competition, first going undefeated in the district, and then winning the Region II championship before advancing to the finals against Salem.
“It was our closest match of the whole year,” Manilla said of the 5-2 win. “So that’s pretty good. I was never as worried as I was last year.”
Manilla’s comfortable nature on the court stems from his family’s passion for the sport. Manilla’s father is the head tennis professional at the Boar’s Head country club. His two older brothers each played in the top spot for Western. The Manilla family eats, sleeps, and breathes tennis. For Ix, it makes his job that much easier.
“It’s great,” Ix said. “I’m not really allowed to do much with them during the year because of some rules. So this is a big advantage.”
Ix says that coaching Manilla is about game management, he has the talent to do everything else.
“It’s just about making sure that he does the things he normally does during a game,” Ix said. “It’s about keeping him focused and pumped up.”
While Manilla knows that he’s a great player, he still needs and appreciates the help that Ix provides for him.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches and I think he’s definitely the best,” Manilla said. “It’s a lot easier to understand what’s going on from someone else’s point of view. Anyone can tell what Federer was doing wrong against Nadal. Coach Ix will come down tell me what’s going on. That helps a lot.”
In just two years at Western, Manilla has helped to bring home a pair of state titles, and he still has two years left to play for the Warriors.
And in case you’re
wondering whether Manilla only owns lucky items, you’ll be relieved to know he’s identified some apparel that doesn’t get the job done.
“I do have an unlucky shirt,” Manilla said. “Which is unfortunate because it’s a really cool shirt, but I can’t ever wear it.”