Fraternal twins lead Balers singles play
Their last name is spelled C-o-f-f-e-y, not exactly the same way
that the famous morning beverage is spelled
– but that doesn’t mean that the two Coffey brothers on the San
Benito High boys’ tennis team aren’t giving the Balers a boost of
energy on the court this season.
Fraternal twins lead Balers singles play
Their last name is spelled C-o-f-f-e-y, not exactly the same way that the famous morning beverage is spelled – but that doesn’t mean that the two Coffey brothers on the San Benito High boys’ tennis team aren’t giving the Balers a boost of energy on the court this season.
In fact, fraternal twins Danny and Michael Coffey are the team’s top two singles players this year.
Danny is the team’s No. 1 player and Michael plays No. 2 on the Baler squad – a placement that was determined in a challenge match three weeks ago.
“I beat him 6-0, 6-1,” said Danny, who finished second in the Tri County Athletic League’s singles tournament a year ago. “Every time we play and I beat him, he always says that he was playing bad.”
While there is certainly some rivalry between the two siblings both get along on and off the court. And Michael, who is about six minutes older than his brother, doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to his younger brother on the tennis court.
“I’m fine with playing No. 2,” Michael said. “He’s a better player and more aggressive than me. He deserves to be No. 1.”
Michael was the first to take up the sport after some encouragement from his mother five years ago. Their parents both compete in tennis leagues at Ridgemark and are considered intermediate players.
Danny, who has only been playing for about three years, became interested by accident – literally.
A long-time dirt bike enthusiast, Danny broke his leg twice while riding and was encouraged to play tennis as a means of his physical therapy.
“He was into his dirt bikes and thought that tennis was too boring,” Michel said. “But now he likes it.”
Today Danny has his sights set on winning the league’s singles title this year.
“I’d say my forehand and serve are the strongest parts of my game,” Danny said. “I want to win the league title and I think I will if I work at it hard enough, which I am going to do.”
Both brothers have the ability to work at their games as much as they want as the Coffey family lives in Quail Hollow right near Ridgemark, which gives them easy access to tennis courts and playing the game.
While Danny is most impressed with his forehand, Michael, who also has a solid service game, believes his groundstrokes are his best asset during a match.
During a match the two brothers will often help each other out – since their matches often take place on courts that are adjacent to each other.
“In between points we talk here and there; and I might say nice shot or something like that,” Michael said. “I tell him to keep his head in there and stay focused, depending on how he is playing.”
Although they are twins, the two look quite different from one another. Michael is heavier and is roughly four inches taller than Danny, which translates to Michael having the upper hand off the court in brotherly arguments.
“I usually get the best of him,” said Michael, with a chuckle. “But we get along pretty good. I guess you could say like typical brothers. We argue and what not – one minute we love each other and another minute we don’t speak to each other.”
Both of the brothers come across as upstanding individuals. Proof positive of that was Michael’s response when asked what his tennis goals were this season.
“My goal is to set an example for the other kids,” said the 15-year-old sophomore. “I want to show them that it’s important to play tennis year-round, not just three months out of the year. I also want to get better at my tennis too.”
