Brother-sister tennis standouts are poised to help West High soar to another state title

West High has had one of the premier tennis programs in Alaska for over two decades, even before the first sanctioned state tournament in 2007.

The Eagles have claimed 10 state championship team titles since then. Helping lead the charge for the team’s attempt at 11 is a pair of siblings who hail from a big family full of gifted tennis players.

Jude and Lana Cebrian are two of seven children in their family. They’re also among the best players in Alaska, and will be looking to prove it in the singles competition this weekend at the 2023 state championship tournament.

“I plan to win state and I’m glad to (represent) West High,” Lana said.

She is the top-ranked girls singles player in the state as a freshman, and Jude, a junior, is the third-ranked boys singles player. Both siblings, who are homeschooled but play tennis for West, are excited for the opportunity to continue adding to the program’s longstanding standard of excellence.

Jude became the first member of the family to win an individual state title last year as a sophomore when he and Cyrus Clendaniel came in first in the boys doubles division. That feat has given him the confidence that he can do it again in a different division this year.

Even though he claimed a state title playing doubles, West head tennis coach Bill Cotton said Jude has always preferred being, and viewed himself as, a singles player.

“He is my only singles player that could compete at that very top level,” Cotton said. “Our singles player from last year graduated and his partner from last year is still playing doubles with someone else.”

Cotton said boys singles is a “very tough division” this year with both defending state champion Aaron Griffin from South and runner-up Ulysses Escobar of Service returning.

“Ulysses beat Aaron during the season and they’ve both beaten Jude, but it’s very competitive,” Cotton said.

Jude qualified for state by reaching the semifinals at this past weekend’s Region IV championship tournament, but he withdrew before he could get a chance to face Griffin due to a minor injury. Cotton said Jude expects to be fine for this weekend.

[West tennis cruises to 6th straight regional title with depth and strong showings in the finals]

While the boys singles division features several familiar faces and the top two returners, the same can’t be said on the girls’ side, after the majority of top contenders graduated.

That void provided a clear pathway for Lana to rise to prominence in just her first year competing at the high school level.

Lana has yet to lose a single match, came in first at regions this past Saturday, and is the prohibitive favorite heading into the state tournament.

“I’m honestly super surprised and proud because she worked for it, she played hard for it, and she beat all the other girls for it,” Jude said.

Cotton said her skills are only matched by her graciousness on the court.

“She is a very good tennis player and also a very nice and personable young lady,” Cotton said. “She has played for quite a few years. I got to see her play before she got to high school and we’re super glad to have her on the team.”

Siblings and practice partners

The siblings’ father was a tennis player, but he’d stopped playing until their older sister Rosabella picked up the sport and the other siblings followed suit.

“It was just like a chain that went down,” Lana said.

Brother Ayan graduated this past spring after coming in fourth at state in singles last year. Once he moved to Miami for college, Jude became Lana’s hitting partner. Since then, her game has continued to get stronger.

“He was the No. 1 reason that I started to become better because having him beside me gave me more confidence,” Lana said. “I’m thankful that he is my hitting partner as well because I can hit shots as hard as I want with him and they always come straight back.”

The Cebrians are homeschooled and were born and raised in Wasilla. Some of the older Cebrian kids played at Mat-Su schools, but the younger siblings started competing with West, believing it was the best fit for their development as players.

“We made the big decision to start going from Wasilla all the way to West High School,” Jude said.

They say they’ve learned a tremendous amount under the tutelage Cotton provides year-round.

“I’m very proud that we got to train with him because he gave us many very valuable tricks to use against our opponents, and each other as well,” Lana said.

[West High tennis continues to thrive under an Alaska coaching pioneer]

Lana said she’s been able to reach a championship level by modeling her game after her older brothers.

“My confidence comes from my brothers because when I watched them rally, I said, ‘Wow, I really want to be at their level, be with them,’ ” Lana said. “I want to start challenging them at their level and play style.”